MacLeod was born at
Inveraray,
Argyll, the son of John Macleod, prison governor of
Inveraray Jail and his wife, Mary Mctavish of
Tobermory. His sister Phoebe married George Whigham (died 1909), who later became his business partner. Phoebe died at Woodbine Cottage in
Colinton in 1925 and is buried with John in Warriston Cemetery. He studied law at the
University of Edinburgh and qualified as a solicitor in 1895. == Career ==