John Roydon Peacock was the son of Ralph Peacock, an accomplished portrait painter whose work is represented by two paintings in the Tate Gallery and others in various national galleries throughout the world. He studied at Cambridge where he graduated with first class honours in the Natural Science Tripos in 1922 and at St George's Hospital. He became surgeon to the ENT Department of the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital, Taplow, and then held posts as honorary surgeon to the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, and recognised teacher of otology to the University of London. Finally he was honorary consulting surgeon to the ENT Department at St George's Hospital, London. He died on 28 March 1982.