He was born in Montreal in 1825, the son of Robert Unwin Harwood and Marie-Louise-Josephte, the daughter of Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbiniere, and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal.
Born in Montreal in 1825, he was the son of Robert Unwin Harwood and Marie-Louise-Josephte, who were the daughter of Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbiniere. He received his education at the Petit Séminaire de Montréal.