Born in Fenton Barns, Scotland to Hugh Bertram and Isabella Mack, Bertram emigrated to join his brother John in Canada in 1865.

After opening a hardware store in Lindsay, Ontario, he moved to Toronto in 1876.

A prominent businessman, Bertram was elected to federal parliament as a member of the House of Commons of Canada for Toronto Centre in an 1897 by-election.

Bertram's daughter, Christine Mabel married William Henry Moore, a writer and lawyer who also became a Member of the Canadian House of Commons from Ontario.

A Liberal, he died in office in 1900 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.