[1] He studied law at Merton College, Oxford and was captain of the Oxford-Canadian ice hockey team[2] which toured Europe and was undefeated in its 17 matches, outscoring its opponents 204 goals to 17.

[2] In 1916, he joined the Canadian Corps's St. Francis Xavier Hospital Unit and served for the remainder of World War I in England and France.

He became a leading member of the Responsible Government League and campaigned against joining Canada in the 1948 Newfoundland referendums.

[1] When Newfoundland joined Canada on March 31, 1949, Higgins hung black crepe on his door as a symbol of mourning.

[1] On January 15, 1959, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker appointed Higgins as Newfoundland's first Progressive Conservative member of the Senate of Canada,[2] where he served until his death in 1963.