John Desborough Man was born on 19 October 1853, at 17 Spencer Place, North Brixton, Kennington, Lambeth, Surrey, the son of Edward Desborough and Louisa Mary (Harris) Man and was baptized on 23 December at St. Mark’s, Kennington.

He died unmarried on 9 November 1875, at Richmond Estate, St. Anne’s Bay, Middlesex, Jamaica, and was interred at St. Anne’s Bay Cemetery, Jamaica, on the same day.  He may have gone to Jamaica with his Kirkness cousins Charles, Frederick, and Lawrence.