Born in Brockville, Ontario, he attended Brockville Collegiate Institute before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Commerce degree both from Queen's University in 1942.
During World War II, he served as an intelligence officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1948 and was created a Queen's Counsel in 1958.
In the 1953 federal election, he defeated Roy Thomson, the Progressive Conservative Party candidate and newspaper publisher, and was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as the Liberal Party candidate for the riding of York Centre.
He was given the honour of replying to the Speech from the Throne on behalf of the Government at the opening of Parliament.