John Carter was born on 27 January 1919 in Cane Grove Village on the East Coast of Demerara, Guyana (then British Guiana). He was a graduate of Queens College, Guyana and University of London where he achieved a BA and LLB. He was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1942.
Mr. John Carter was a candidate for the British Guiana Labor Party (BGLP) in 1948 and a candidate for the People’s National Congress (PNC) in 1961. He was appointed the first Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana in 1963 and Ambassador to the United States of America in 1963.
Mr. Carter was subsequently appointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1970 and Ambassador to China in 1976.
In 1966 Mr. John Carter became Sir John Carter, having the Knighthood bestowed upon him by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He also received the Cacique Crown of Honour of Guyana in 1973 and the Order of Roraima of Guyana in 1984.