Louis Orville Breithaupt was born October 28, 1890, the son of Louis Jacob Breithaupt and Emma Devitt of Berlin (later Kitchener), Ontario. He married Mabel Louis White October 14, 1915. She died during premature labour on June 27th, 1916 giving birth to their first child, who also died. Louis remarried to Sara Caskey of Toronto on November 21, 1919. The couple had four children: Mary Scott; Louis Paul; Sara (Sally) Caroline and Herbert Caskey.

L.O. as he was commonly known, was educated at the University of Toronto. He became head of his family's leather business, Breithaupt Leather Company and was a Kitchener alderman for four years before becoming the youngest mayor in the city's history in 1923. He was a Liberal Member of Parliament from 1940 to 1952 and served as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 1952 until 1957. Breithaupt was active in many service organizations, such as the YMCA and Rotary Club. In 1959, he became Chancellor of Victoria University, Toronto.

Louis died in Toronto December 6, 1960 and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. Sara died February 14, 1989 and was buried with him.