Well-known legislator and legal giant, Professor Oswald Harding was born on November 3, 1935, in Kingston to Sylvester H. Harding and Edna M. Levy. Harding was educated in the halls of the North Street institution, Kingston College. True to the school’s motto of “The brave may fall but never yield”, Professor Harding went on to make incredible strides even amidst personal tragedy. One such is the loss of his grandmother, Essie, who is extensively included in his autobiography “Grandson of Essie”, published in 2019. Harding went on to study at the High School of Montreal, McGill University, London School of Economics and the University of London. Also known as ‘Ossie’, the Hon Oswald Harding has several interests outside of law and politics, which include sports, the arts and music. A member of the Anglican faith and devoted family man, he is a proud husband and father of two sons. 

Professor Harding is the former President of the Senate of which he served for almost three decades. He was also Minster of Justice from 1986-1989, during the administration of former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga. Professor Harding has had an incredible career, some of which includes being the first Charge D’Affaires for the Jamaican Embassy in Mexico, Deputy Chief of Protocol for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, first employee for Life of Jamaica Limited (now Sagicor), tutor at the Norman Manley Law School, dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology (UTech), Notary Public, senior partner for O.G. Harding & Company and chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). 
Professor Harding is the epitome of lifelong learning, as after his retirement from politics, he went on to study philosophy and was awarded a doctorate from the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.