He continued his studies at the University of Toronto and then articled as an attorney and solicitor.

From 1882 to 1896, he was the Liberal-Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada for Lisgar.

(John would die in the sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912 at the age of 36.)

In 1888, he entered the real estate business in Vancouver but returned to Winnipeg in 1891.

After he retired from politics, he moved to Toronto, where he became involved in mining.