Joseph Henry McGovern was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England on 24 October 1850. he was articled to Henry Hill Vale (1830?-1875) in Liverpool and remained with him as his assistant. He also attended lectures at Liverpool University. He commenced independent practice as an architect in Liverpool in 1873. He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1912.
Hris address was given as 23 Rapport Road, Sacombe, Lancashire and Harrington Chambers, 26 North John Street, Liverpool in 191; and 41 North John Street, Livefpdol2; 29 Colquit Street, Liverpool, and 18 Binns Road, Edge Lane, Liverpool in 1922. He died in 1923
Several villas on the Clifton Hall Estate, Egremont, Cheshire; small suburban Sardon estate. Great Crosby; new mills, Glasgow and Liverpool; villas, main road, Barnston; and Sandymount Drive, New Brighton, Cheshire; reconstruction of Adelphi Theatre, Liverpool, into Arena Hall; besides many public buildings, and billiard hall
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001