John Kinross was born in Stirling, Scotland on 3 July 1855 and was articled to John Hutchinson (c.1841-1908) in Glasgow from 1870 to 1875. He then worked as an assistant to James Maitland Wardrop (1824-1882) of Wardrop & Reid in Edinburgh from 1875 to 1880. In 1880-81 he spent a sketching tour of Italy and on his return published Details from Italian Buildings Chiefly Renaissance (Edinburgh: G. Waterston & Sons, 1882). In 1882 he also formed a partnership with Henry Seymour (1857-1912) as Seymour & Kinross.
Whilst in partnership with Seymour, Kinross also formed a partnership with W.S. Black as Black & Kinross in Edinburgh in 1887. Both partnerships were dissolved in 1889. From 1890 to 1897 he worked independently.
In 1897 Kinross formed a new partnership, Kinross & Tarbolton with Harold Ogle Tarbolton (1869-1947). This partnership was dissolved in 1905. Kinross subsequently worked alone again until 1920 when he formed a final partnership with James Inch Morrison (1878-1944) as Kinross & Morrison. The partnership, which mainly worked on the design of war memorials, was short-lived and was dissolved in 1923.
Kinross exhibited frequently (mainly architectural drawings and plans) at the Royal Scottish in Edinburgh from 1895 to 1931.
Kinross was an active member of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, and was its President in 1898–99.
Throughout his career Kinross lived and had offices in Edinburgh. He died at his home, 2 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, on 7 January 1931
Notable projects by Kinross included alterations to St. Baldred's Episcopal Church, in North Berwick (1884); restoration of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh (1889); restoration of the Carmelite friary church in South Queensferry, Midlothian (1889–90); restoration of Falkland Palace in Falkland, Fife (1890–98); restoration of the Augustinian prior in St Andrews, Fife (1893–98); partial restoration of Greyfriars church and convent in Morayshire (1896–1900), restoration of the Michaelkirk, Moray (1900–01); the design St Mary's church in Chapeltown, Moray (1896–97); the design St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Torry near Aberdeen (1897); houses at Carlekemp, Haddington (1898–1900); stables at Altyre, Moray (1902) and Ingliston, near Edinburgh (c.1900–02); war memorial at Cockburnspath in the Scottish Borders (1920); war memorial at Buckie, Banffshire (with William Birnie Rhind), 1920); war memorial at Montrose in Angus (with Henry Snell Gamley, 1920); war memorial at Cupar, Fife (with Henry Snell Gamley, 1920); war memorial at Markinch, Fife (1921); war memorial at Fettes College, Craigleith, Edinburgh (with William Birnie Rhind, 1921); war memorial at Kirriemuir in Angus (with Henry Hutcheon, 1921); and war memorial at the Free church in Morningside, Edinburgh (with Henry Snell Gamley, 1921)
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For a more detailed list of architectural projects by John Kinross see: Dictionary of Scottish Architects
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Mays, Deborah Clare. John Kinross: his life and work, 1855–1931. PhD thesis, St Andrew's University, 1989