William Vernon Cone was educated at the University of Iowa, and spent his early career (1922-1928) there and at Columbia University, teaching and researching in neuropathology and surgery. He was also a junior attending surgeon at the Presbyterian Hospital, New York City during this period. In 1928, Dr. Cone moved to Montreal with Dr. Wilder Penfield and became associated with McGill University and the Royal Victoria Hospital. From 1929 until his death, Dr. Cone was actively involved in teaching at McGill University. He established the Montreal Neurological Institute with Dr. Wilder Penfield in 1934 and was Chief of Neurological Service there until his death on May 4, 1959. Dr. Cone was a consulting neurosurgeon at many hospitals and was also involved in many professional societies. During World War II, Dr. Cone was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Dr. Cone was an author of many papers on neuropathology, neurosurgery and neurology. He also developed many techniques in the treatment of head injuries, the study of antibiotics, the use of the twist drill in the diagnosis of intracranial lesions, and a number of other areas.

Harris Sinclair (StClair) Congdon was born on June 18, 1856, in Cornwallis, Kings, Nova Scotia.

He moved to Dartmouth in 1885 where he became principal of Dartmouth High School. He was also a journalist and editor of the Atlantic Weekly for many years. In 1923, in semi-retirement at the age of sixty-seven, Congdon became a leading figure and publicist for the Maritime Rights movement. He served as president of the Maritime Club of Halifax and as editor of the club's publication, Maritime Rights.

In 1879, he married Sarah Jane Artz (1852–1929). He died on February 14, 1932, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.