The grandson of Canadian war financier Sir John Aird, John Black Aird was educated at Upper Canada College, Trinity College and Osgoode Hall. He practised law in Toronto and headed his own firm from 1974. During World War II he served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and in 1944 married Lucille Housser. From 1964 to 1974 he served as a Senator, and in 1971 he served as Chairman of the Canada-United States Permanent Joint Board on Defence. From 1977 to 1985 he was Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. Mr Aird was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, and served as Lieutenant Governor from 1980 to 1985. The main focus of his mandate was Ontarians with disabilities. He authored the book, Loyalty In A Changing World ? a look at the contemporary function of the Lieutenant Governor. Mr Aird was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 1987, and in 1993 he was promoted to Companion in the Order of Canada. He died in Toronto in 1995.