John Ireland Falconer was born in 1879, in Fortrose, Ross-shire, in the Black Isle area of Scotland. His parents were the Rev. Charles Falconer, Church of Scotland, and his wife, Jane Ireland. His mother was the great-granddaughter of Charles Spalding, improver of the diving bell. The family were members of the Smalls of Dirnanean, Perthshire, Scotland. Falconer received his early education at the Fortrose Academy in his hometown, later attending George Watson's College in Edinburgh. He received his M.A. and his LL.B from the University of Edinburgh. After initially practising law in Glasgow, Falconer joined the Edinburgh firm of Fyfe, Ireland & Co., W.S., in 1911. In Edinburgh on 16 October 1913, Falconer married Catherine Louise Mary Robinson, the daughter of John Norman Robinson of Bunkers Hill, Carlisle and Croftheads, Moffat. When World War I ensued, Falconer received a commission as Lieutenant in 9th Royal Scots on 1 October 1914. He was promoted to Captain and Adjutant 4 March 1915, and subsequently elevated to Major on 5 July 1916. He eventually joined the 13th Royal Scots. During his military tenure, Falconer served in England and Ireland 1914–18, and in France 1918–19. In early 1919, after his discharge from military service, Falconer resumed the practise of law in Edinburgh.
Civic career
Falconer began his civic career in 1932 with his election to the Town Council in Edinburgh. In 1935 he was elected Magistrate of the body, becoming its Treasurer in 1940. In 1938 he lost by one vote in an election to become the Progressive Party's candidate for Lord Provost of Edinburgh. During World War II he served as the Chief Air Raid Warden for Edinburgh, with the responsibility for raising the city's Civil Defence plans to war time efficiency. In 1944 Falconer was again put forward as the Progressive Party's candidate for Lord Provost, this time winning the position. On 10 November 1944 Falconer was sworn in as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Between 1945 and 1947, Falconer played a major role in establishing the Edinburgh International Festival, putting in train the necessary administrative machinery that ensured that the Festival could take place. The first Festival occurred during his last year as Lord Provost. In 1937 Falconer joined the University Court of the University of Edinburgh. For his civic service, Falconer was bestowed the honour of Knight Bachelor in 1946. Falconer was knighted by King George VI during a royal visit to Edinburgh. The honour noted his "dignity, capacity, assiduity, and courtesy of manner has added not only to the lustre of the office he holds but to his own considerable record of achievement in the public service." Later in 1946 Falconer was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Edinburgh. In 1952 Falconer was appointed chairman of the Scottish Advisory Council of the BBC.
