Dougall was born in June 1867 in
Kippen, a small village near
Stirling,
Scotland; his father, a watchmaker and postmaster, had nine children, among whom John was the eldest. He was educated locally at Kippen School. He left school at age 13 to become a post office worker, but a year later entered
Glasgow University, from which he earned an M.A. in 1886. Dougall became a member of the
Edinburgh Mathematical Society in 1885, and was president of the society for 1925–1926. He frequently published mathematical works in the proceedings and transactions of these two societies. ==Publications==