 He attended Talbot Street School in the first year of the century and later Central Collegiate, and finally the University of Toronto.He majored in English, history and Business, and combined these with an interest in politics - his father being a mayor of London, Ontario, in the years 1895, 1896, and 1897.In 1907, he entered into the employ of the firm of Robinson Little and Company and was secretary of that company from 1913 until it was dissolved.