Edmund Henry Oliver was born on 8 February 1881 at Chatham Township, Ontario. He attended both the University of Toronto and Columbia University, from which he received a PhD in 1905. From 1905-9 he taught at McMaster University, and then joined the University of Saskatchewan as Professor of History and Economics. He resigned in 1912 to become Principal of St. Andrew's College. During WWI he was Chaplain of the 196th Battalion and in 1917 launched the University of Vimy Ridge. In 1930 he was elected Moderator of the United Church of Canada. Dr. Oliver died suddenly on 11 July 1935.