He and his brothers, William and John, are remembered for their pioneering work in the Canadian milling trade with their company, A. W. Ogilvie & Co. of Montreal, and as pioneers and believers in the success of the Canadian West.

He was born in Côte-Saint-Michel, Lower Canada (now Quebec) which is on the island of Montreal, the son of Alexander Ogilvie and Helen Watson.

[1] Their brother, William Watson Ogilvie, joined the company in 1860 to head up the Montreal offices.

In 1881, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada representing the senatorial division of Alma, Quebec.

[1] He was a Justice of the Peace and Lt. Col. of the Montreal Cavalry and a director of Mount Royal Cemetery.