Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the son of Charles Miller and Elizabeth Smith, he was educated at the Antigonish Academy, studied law and was called the bar of Nova Scotia in 1860.

In 1863, he was elected as a Reformer to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia representing the Cape Breton riding of Richmond County.

In 1867, at the age of 32, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada representing the senatorial division of Richmond, Nova Scotia.

He was the youngest person ever summoned to the Canadian Senate.

This article about a Liberal party Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly is a stub.