"A true Scot, he was brought up in the best traditions of the Christian faith. In his life and work he gave inspiration to thousands of people of many races with whom his long career brought him into touch. He was endowed with many qualities that commanded admiration. He was a true leader. He had a fine mind, imagination and immense capacity for work. He had a great sense of humour and directness in all his dealings. Above all, he brought to all his relationships a special sympathy and understanding stemming from a belief in the dignity and quality of all his fellow beings. It was this particularly that made so many love him and this above all that brings us here today to give thanks for his life and to commend his soul to God his Maker."

(Memorial Service to Sir John at St Martin's-in-the-Fields,
London, 2nd December 1971)

      Sir John was born in Scotland and educated at George Watson's College and the University of Edinburgh. He served in the Army as a subaltern in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the last years of the First World War, and, in 1921, he was chosen for the Malayan Civil Service. For the next twelve years he served his apprenticeship in Malaya and learned at ground level the art of government. In 1933 he was brought to London to do a two-year spell of duty at the Colonial Office.

      In Nigeria he showed his quality very quickly, so that, in 1939, he was selected for the difficult task of Chief Secretary of the Government of Palestine. He held this key post with distinction until 1943, when he was sent to Washington as Head of the British Colonies Supply Mission, and later was entrusted with the duties of Comptroller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies at a time when the ground-work was being prepared for the Caribbean Federation.

      In 1948 he was called to be Governor General of Nigeria, and in 1954 became the first Governor General of that territory. When Sir John left in 1955, The Daily Times of Lagos honoured the occasion with a special 'Macpherson Farewell Souvenir Issue', which contained pages of tributes from tribal chiefs, bishops, federal and regional prime ministers, trade union leaders and many others, testifying to his 'sincere and friendliness', 'great ability', 'tact and wisdom', 'great and magnetic personality', 'his far-sighted and dynamic spirit', and almost all included that word 'friendliness'.

      In 1956, to the delight of all those in Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service serving overseas, he was invited to become Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, a post which was usually held by a Home Civil Servant. This was a very rare honour indeed. He finally retired from the Civil Service in 1959 and the following year became Deputy Chairman and later Chairman of the Development Corporation of the new town of Basildon, and in 1962 became Chairman of Cable and Wireless Ltd. He was also Vice President of the Royal Commonwealth Society.