Harold Rupert Saunders was born on May 16, 1904, in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco to James William ‘Jimmy’ Saunders (1860-1953) and Sarah Blanche Sweeting (1872-1932).

His siblings included…

• Ernest Uriah (1900)
• George Douglas (1902)

In October 1932, Harold married Laura Madge Malone (1910-1987) from Wilson City, Abaco. She is the daughter of Curtis Tweedy Malone (1888-1967) and Hattie Belle Johnson (1887-1966).

In 1927, Saunders opened The Nassau Dry Cleaners, the first modern dry-cleaning business in the Bahamas. Later, on January 11, 1957, he established The Nassau Shop, a high-end department store on Bay Street, Nassau. The store was known for its modern design, West Indian architectural influence, and full air-conditioning, making it one of the most furnished and stocked stores in the Bahamas.