John Black was born and educated in Scotland and came to Canada in 1839

Black's early life was not well documented. We do know that he worked for about seven years in a solicitor's office before being appointed clerk to the General Quarterly Court of Assiniboia. He had duties as deputy to the recorder

Recorder (judge)

A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...

 of Rupert’s Land, Adam Thom

Adam Thom

Adam Thom was a teacher, journalist, lawyer, public servant, and recorder.- Biography :Adam Thom was born in Brechin, in the Tayside region in Scotland. His father was Andrew Thom, a merchant, and his mother Elizabeth Bisset.He entered the King's College in 1819 and obtained a Master of Arts in 1824...

. However, he also became an active employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company shortly after his arrival at the Red River Colony

Red River Colony

The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...

 where Thom was located. In 1845 he married Alexander Christie

Alexander Christie

Alexander Christie was a fur trader and was Governor of the Red River Settlement from 1833 to 1839 and from 1844 to 1846...

's daughter. Christie was the governor of Assiniboia and a chief factor of the HBC. In 1848, Black became chief trader.

In 1861 was appointed president (recorder) of the General Quarterly Court of Assiniboia. In 1862 he was introduced to the Council of Assiniboia and served until 1870