Oliver Mowat Biggar

Oliver Mowat Biggar, (October 11, 1876 – September 4, 1948) was a Canadian lawyer and civil servant. He was the second judge advocate general for the Canadian Militia and the first chief electoral officer of Canada. He also served as the first Canadian co-chair of the Canada–United States Permanent Joint Board on Defense. Biggar was well known as a leading Canadian lawyer with expertise in public law and patent law. Early life and education Biggar was born in Toronto, Ontario. He was the eldest son of lawyer Charles Robert Webster Biggar and Jane Helen Mowat (daughter of Sir Oliver Mowat, a former Premier of Ontario). Biggar was educated at Upper Canada College, graduating in 1894. He attended University College at the University of Toronto and graduated with a B.A. in 1898. In 1901 Biggar graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and began practicing as a lawyer with Biggar & Burton. By 1903, he moved to Edmonton, Alberta, and was called to the bar there. On April 30, 1908, he married Muriel Elizabeth Whitney (daughter of J.G. Whitney). Together they had one daughter, Sally Vernon Biggar. Early career and military involvement While in Edmonton, Biggar made a reputation for himself as a capable lawyer. He practiced with Short, Cross and Biggar from 1903 to 1915, and was made King's Counsel in 1913. He was appointed in 1911 to the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta, on which he served until 1914. He also served on the Board of Edmonton Hospital during this period. From 1915 to 1920, he was counsel for Woods, Sherry, Collison & Field in Edmonton.