He worked at a variety of jobs-as a carpenter, insurance salesman, keeper of a temperance hotel-before taking a position as a janitor at Anderson's (now the University of Strathclyde) in Glasgow.

之后他做过许多工作——木匠、保险推销员、禁酒旅店管理员，然后他来到格拉哥斯安德森大学（现在的斯特拉恩克莱德大学）当了一名门房。