Private practice, Jackson, Tennessee, 1856-1858, 1874-1880
Private practice, Memphis, Tennessee, 1855-1861, 1865-1874
Receiver of alien property, West Tennessee, Confederate States of America, 1861-1864
Special judge, Court of Arbitration for Western Tennessee, 1875-1877
State representative, Tennessee, 1880-1881
U.S. senator from Tennessee, 1881-1886
Allotment as Circuit Justice:
Fifth Circuit, March 13, 1893-April 1, 1894
Sixth Circuit, April 2, 1894-August 8, 1895