Thomas Gibson was born in Ireland and received his medical training at Edinburgh. In 1895, he came to Canada as medical A.D.C. to the Governor-General, Lord Aberdeen. He set up practice in Ottawa and was medical attendant to four successive Governors-General. In 1924, he accepted the Douglas Chair of Therapeutics and Pharmacology at Queens University, Kingston. Gibson was known not only for his teaching but also for his historical writings on medical subjects.

Alfred William Gifford was born on February 10, 1873, in Montreal, Quebec.

He was a member of the firm Wilson, Patterson, and Gifford for many years before becoming vice-president of Canadian Refractories. Ltd. An avid runner and holder of many records, he was one of the representatives of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association track teams and also a member of the St. James Club and the Royal Montreal Golf Club.

In 1898, he married May Macfarlane. He died on September 24, 1936, in Salem, Connecticut.