Sir John Stuart Macpherson, GCMG (1951) KCMG (1945) CMG (1941), was born on the 25 August 1898 and educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh and Edinburgh University.

After military service (1917-1919) Macpherson entered the Malayan Civil Service (1921-1937), during which time he was seconded to the Colonial Office (1933-1935). He subsequently served as Principal Assistant Secretary, Nigeria (1937-1939); Chief Secretary, Palestine (1939-1943); Head of British Colonies Supply Mission in Washington and Member of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission (1943-1945); [Controller] for Development and Welfare in the West Indies and British co-Chairman of the Caribbean Commission (1945-1948); Governor of Nigeria (1948-1954); Governor-General of the Federation of Nigeria (1954-1955); Chairman of the UN Visiting Mission to Trust Territories of the Pacific (1956), and Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1956-1959).

Sir Macpherson was an Honorary Associate of University College, Ibadan (1950); Honorary Doctor of Laws, Edinburgh (1957), and KStJ (1952). He died on the 5 November 1971.