John Ireland Falconer was born in 1879, and his wife, Jane Ireland. His mother was the great-granddaughter of
Charles Spalding, improver of the
diving bell. The Falconers were close relatives of the Scottish lairds Smalls of
Dirnanean,
Perthshire, Scotland. Falconer received his early education at the
Fortrose Academy in his home town, later attending
George Watson's College in Edinburgh. He received an M.A. and LL.B from the
University of Edinburgh. of Bunkers Hill, Carlisle and Croftheads,
Moffat. On the outbreak of
World War I, Falconer received a
commission as
lieutenant in 9th
Royal Scots on 1 October 1914. He was promoted to captain and
adjutant on 4 March 1915, and to
major on 5 July 1916. He later joined the 13th Royal Scots. During his military career, Falconer served in England and Ireland (1914–18) and France (1918–19). In early 1919, after his discharge from military service, Falconer resumed the practise of law in Edinburgh. ==Civic career==