He was also the owner and president of a publishing company, and editor-in-chief of two newspapers, the Halifax Herald and the Evening Mail.
He survived many hardships and tragedies including the loss of six of his younger siblings and five of his children, two major fires at his publishing company and the Halifax Explosion.
When he was a senator, he traveled to England and France to personally report on the progress of World War I and Canada's role in it.
[3] William Dennis's son Alexander described his father as "a character full of initiative, energy and enthusiasm that had so many facets.
He hated dishonesty and his eyes that generally carried a twinkle seemed to penetrate in steely contrast to the untruth.
His Presbyterian parents, John Dennis and Mary Parnall, ran a large farm that employed agricultural laborers.
It was working for the order that William met J. J. Stewart, and others who were interested in establishing an "unfettered" public press.
William purchased the Kenny Building on the corner of Granville and George Streets which he converted into offices, keeping two floors for the use of the paper.
[10] William was appointed to the Senate for the Halifax, Nova Scotia division on 20 November 1912 following nomination by Prime Minister Robert Borden.
James Lowther, Speaker of the House of Commons and Joint President of the Empire Parliamentary Association, United Kingdom Branch.
Eric died seven months later in the Battle of Vimy Ridge on Easter Sunday, 1917, bringing the number of children William and Agnes had lost to five.
Understanding hard times, William donated "large amounts to philanthropic and public relief".
[45] William remained a senator and editor-in-chief of the Herald and Mail Publishing Company until his death on 11 July 1920.
[46] William's wife Agnes was instrumental in establishing the Victoria Order of Nurses to provide home-based care to those in need.
[47] His daughter Clara produced a series of travel books on Nova Scotia illustrated with her own photographs in the 1930s.