 He was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the son of John Blair Whidden and Harriet Elizabeth Symonds, and was educated at the grammar school and Academy there.In 1856, he married Eunice C. Graham.He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons in 1878 and 1882 before being elected in an 1882 by-election held after John Sparrow David Thompson was named a judge.