Born at Kilkeel, Co Down he received his medical education at Trinity College and the Adelaide Hospital, Dublin, the London Hospital, Guy's Hospital and Vienna. Entering the regular Naval Medical Service he reached the rank of Surgeon-Captain and acted as a surgeon at various times at RN Hospitals a

Born at Bristol 19 February 1875, the ninth child and sixth son of the Rev John Mackie, Rector of Fylton, Glos, and Annis Bennett his second wife. John Mackie was twice married; there were five sons and two daughters of the first marriage, and one daughter and three sons of the second. He was educat