John Fairweather was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 5 February 1867 and studied at the College of Science & Arts [presumably in Glasgow] in 1881. From 1882 to 1887 he was articled to James Milne Monro Monroe (1840-1921) and remained with him as his assistant, during which time he also attended Glasgow School of Art.
Fairweather qualified as an architect in 1904 and in 1905 set up his own independent practice in Glasgow. He specialised in cinema and theatre architecture of which he designed many in Scotland between 1914 and 1939. He also designed the Public Library in Townhead, Glasgow (1904); and the Parish Church Halls in Stepps, Lanarkshire (1912).
In 1938 his son, William John Fairweather (1907-1983), joined him in partnership as John Fairweather & Son.
John Fairweather was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1894 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1916.
Throughout his career as an architect Fairweather lived in Glasgow. He was killed in a traffic accident in Stepps, Lanarkshire on 13 January 1942
See: Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980 [link below]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K.