John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, was born on August 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

He studied at the University of St Andrews and University College, Oxford. He succeeded as the 7th Earl of Aberdeen following the death of his eldest brother, George, 6th Earl of Aberdeen, in January 1870. The same year he entered the House of Lords. He became Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire in 1880, served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1881-1885, 1915), and was briefly appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1886. He served as Governor General of Canada from 1893 to 1898 during a period of political transition. He travelled extensively throughout the country and is described as having "transformed the role of Governor General from that of the aristocrat representing the King or Queen in Canada to a symbol representing the interests of all citizens." He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1895. He was again appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1905 and served until 1915. During his tenure, he also served as Lord Rector of the University of St. Andrews (1913–1916), was created a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle (1906) and was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1911). Following his retirement, he was created Earl of Haddo, in the County of Aberdeen, and Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, in the County of Aberdeen, in the County of Meath and in the County of Argyll, in January 1916.

In 1877, he married Ishbel Maria Marjoribanks (1857–1939). He died on March 7, 1934, in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.