John Douglas Scott was born in Westminster, London, England on 21 August 1865. From 1883 he trained with his father, John Scott (1837–1923), Surveyor to the Surrey Asylums Board, and remained with him as his manager. He also studied architecture at University College, London, the Architectural Association in London, and at the Sorbonne in Paris. He worked as an assistant to Thomas Henry Watson (1839-1913) for three months; in the Office of Works for six months; and to Edward Augustus Gruning (1837-1908).
Scott qualified as an architect in 1890 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) later that year. He commenced independent practice as an architect in London in 1898. He was the official architect to Watney's Brewery Company. His address was given as 5 Guilford Place, Russell Square, London in 1890; 23 Bedford Row, London in 1904 and 1924; and 20 Bedford Row, London in 1926 and 1942.. He died in Paddington, London on 28 January 1950
Factories for Messrs. Yeatman. Litholite, Barfield, American Lead Pencil Co., and others. Laundries at Vauxhall, Woking, and East Maiden. Town houses for Lady Peel; Hon. Guy Charteris; Col. Sir M. Wilson, Bart. Private houses at Stoke d'Abernon; Hampstead; Bush Hill Park; etc. Inns and hotels for Trust Houses at Hampden Park, Chichester, Brighton, Emshot, Highams Park, Cherborne, etc. Hotels: — Somerset, Quebec, Belgravia. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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