John MacMillan

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJohn Richard Alexander•MacMillan
Used nameJohn•MacMillan
Born8 February 1932 in Westminster, England (GBR)
AffiliationsCUBC, Cambridge (GBR)
Title(s)Sir
NOC Great Britain

Biography

John MacMillan was educated at Eton College before going to Trinity College, Cambridge. At Eton he was in the eight that won the Ladies’ Plate at Henley in 1948. After going up to Cambridge, he was beaten in the final of the 1950 Colquhoun Sculls, before capturing the title in 1951 by beating fellow First and Third Trinity Boat Club man Peter Brandt, his partner in the double sculls at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. MacMillan was a semi-finalist in the double sculls at Henley in 1952 with Brandt and reached the final of the Magdalene Pairs at Cambridge the following year.

MacMillan went to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and again partnered Brandt. They nearly missed out on selection, however, after finishing second in the Olympic trial at Henley to Dickie Burnell and Pat Bradley of Leander, but the two crews’ oars were overlapping at the finish and the Trinity men put in an objection and the race was re-run 10 days later, which MacMillan and Brandt won by four lengths.

MacMillan won his rowing Blue in 1953, having missed out on selection the previous year. John MacMillan was one of two rowers by that name to be in the 1952 Great Britain Olympic squad, the other being John MacMillan

Away from the water, Sir John MacMillan had a long and distinguished military career and rose to the rank of lieutenant-general. He was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1952, and was their Colonel between 1976-86. When he retired in 1991 he had been the General Officer Commanding Scotland since 1986. MacMillan was honoured with an OBE in 1973, a CBE in 1978, and was knighted in 1988. He held the offices of Governor of Edinburgh Castle between 1988-91, and was Deputy Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk in 1998. By profession MacMillan was a fruit farmer.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Rowing GBR John MacMillan
Double Sculls, Men (Olympic) Peter Brandt 2 h2 r2/5