John was the Conservative Party Agent for the Carlisle and North Cumberland Constituencies, secretary of the Carlisle Dispensary and held important posts with both the Carlisle Savings Bank and the Carlisle and Cumberland Bank. He also held the senior captaincy of the First Volunteer Battalion of the Border Regiment and organised camps and marches for the volunteers to Penrith and Skinburness.
During 1893, he suffered a mental breakdown and, on medical advice, spent some time in Scotland. By the following January, he had recovered sufficiently to return to Carlisle and, with his wife, attended a Charity Ball in aid of the Cumberland Infirmary. The following morning he rose at 7am, locked himself in his dressing room, took his pistol and shot himself through the head. Death was instantaneous.
An inquest was held the same evening and returned a verdict of suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.