John Campbell White was born in 1854 at Milford, Co. Donegal. His father was a Presbyterian minister.

White studied law and at the age of 21 qualified as a solicitor. He became head of White, McMillan & Wheeler solicitors, with offices at Arthur Street, Belfast.

In 1909, White was elected as a councillor for Ormeau Ward. He was chairman of the Corporation’s Electricity Committee and was involved in managing the creation of a new power station on the Harbour Estate, which opened in September 1919.

White was also a member of a committee appointed by the Board of Trade to inquire into the water-power resources of the United Kingdom. White was a vocal advocate of a project designed to harness the resources of the Bann River to supply a large section of Northern Ireland with electricity. To White’s great regret,the bill failed to pass through the Northern Ireland Parliament.

White was appointed as High Sheriff of Belfast in 1915 and was appointed a member of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1921.

He was an active supporter of the Boy Scouts and acted as President of the 17th company.