He farmed in the area and was prominent in local agricultural circles, also serving on the Northampton Road Board.
Cunningham entered parliament at the 1914 state election, replacing the retiring John Nanson.
He was defeated at the 1917 election by Henry Maley, another endorsed Country candidate, and failed to even make the final two-candidate-preferred count.
After leaving politics, Cunningham returned to farming.
He died in Geraldton in October 1949, aged 81, and was unmarried.