He was placed at an early age under the care of a maternal uncle at York, and was sent to Beverley school in the East Riding.
John went to Cambridge, entering first at Catharine Hall, and afterwards at Trinity College, and was second wrangler and second in the Smith's Prize of his year (1782).
He married, and retired to the vicarage of Trumpington, near Cambridge, in 1818, and worked zealously for the education of the poor of his parish.
He devoted much attention to chemistry and mineralogy, as well as to his favourite science, and kept for many years a meteorological diary.
He made additions to the Woodwardian Museum, and left manuscript journals of his travels at home and abroad, and much correspondence on geological subjects.