John was educated at Kildrummy Public School, and at first took up pharmacy, being apprenticed to a pharmaceutical chemist at Mossat. During the South African war he acted as a dispenser in the R.A.M.C., and upon his return to Scotland passed the qualifying examination of the Pharmaceutical Society in 1902. Soon afterwards he started business on his own account as a pharmacist, and whilst so engaged studied medicine at Edinburgh University, graduating M.B., Ch.B. in 1910, and B.Sc. Public Health in 1912. After holding special appointments in the eye and throat departments at the Royal Infirmary, he started general practice in Edinburgh with every prospect of a useful professional career. John joined the R.A.M.C. in June 1917. He met his death whilst in charge of an advanced dressing station on the Western Front. His promotion to Captain was due a few days after he was killed. John was the youngest son of George (a farmer)and Jane Senter of Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; and the husband of Mrs J W Senter - they had four children.