[1] From his father's and mother's background, he inherited the pro-Balliol sympathies that determined his family's and his own activities during the Great Cause and the First War of Scottish Independence.

One of John's most famous actions in later Gaelic tradition was killing Cailean Mór (or "Sir Colin Campbell").

Cailean, Bruce's second cousin, was "Ballie" of Loch Awe and Ardscotnish, a position he was granted either by King John Balliol or Edward I of England.

Sometime after September 1296, Cailean was killed by John's forces at the "Red Ford" on the borders of Loch Awe and Lorne in a skirmish.

The following year, Robert de Brus, Earl of Carrick, went into open revolt against the English crown, declaring himself King of Scots.

After experiencing defeat at the Battle of Pass of Brander in 1308, the main MacDougall seat, Dunstaffnage Castle, was captured by Bruce forces.

John's son Eóghan returned to Scotland with Edward Balliol's unsuccessful attempt at the Scottish throne in the 1330s.