He was the grandson of Jean Pierre Ador, an immigrant from Vaud, who obtained his Genevan citizenship in 1814.

Ador studied law at the academy (now the university) of Geneva, and in 1868 became a lawyer.

[1] In 1871, Ador started his political career as a member of the communal council of Cologny, and was twice mayor, in 1878-9 and 1883-5.

Then he became a member of the executive of the canton of Geneva, being put in charge of the Department of Justice and Police.

Ador served as the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross from 1910 to 1928.