Herbert Macaulay Samuel Heelas was born in Lagos on 14th November, 1864. He was the seventh child of Reverend Thomas Babington Macaulay and Abigail Macaulay (daughter of Bishop Ajayi Crowther). He attended St. Paul’s Anglican School, Breadfruit Street and C.M.S. Day School, Faji both in Lagos.

Like the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA), the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) was formed in 1964. The parties that formed the alliance were the NCNC, Action Group, NEPU, UMBC and a number of other small parties. Dr. Michael Okpara of the NCNC and Premier of Eastern Region was the leader of UPGA. The party which claimed to have a progressive outlook was supposed to be a counterfoil to the NNA.