He received his medical education at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and was at one time assistant medical superintendent at St Saviour's Hospital, Dulwich. He practised for many years at Madras, in India, where he was Chief Medical Officer to the Madras and South Mahratta Railway. He was a most generous benefactor to the College and between 1954 and 1955 made donations totalling £38,803. The fellows Common Room was named the "John Cherry Gibson Room" on 14 July 1955, and on the same day the gift of his house at Ealing with its contents was reported to Council. On 8 November 1956 he was awarded the Honorary Medal as an outstanding benefactor. He died in St Bartholomew's on 6 March 1959.