Career
He represented Antigonish County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as a Liberal member from 1878 to 1891 and from 1895 to 1902. He was educated at Saint Francis Xavier University. McGillivray was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1874.
He served as speaker for the assembly from 1883 to 1886.
McGillivray was defeated when he ran for election in 1894. He was elected in an 1895 by-election held after Colin Francis McIsaac was elected to the House of Commons.
McGillivray ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons in 1887 and 1891.
