John Maude, son of Alwyn Julian Maude, grandson of the first Viscount Harwarden, was born in Orange. His mother Mabel was the daughter of James Torpy, co-MP for Orange. His father's early death took the family to Sydney and his education was carried out in distinguished company in the Mosman Preparatory School with Eric Susman (qv 1) and later at Fort Street in the year of Barwick, Spender and HV Evatt. After graduation from Sydney University in 1920 and residency at Sydney Hospital he commenced general practice in Kings Cross, later joined by Bruce Hall (qv 1) and Gerald Holt. His interest in anaesthesia resulted in an honorary anaesthetist appointment at St Vincent's Hospital and the Mater Hospital.

He decided to restrict practice to consulting as a physician, travelling to London to sit the MRCP. A lump in his jaw was diagnosed as tumour in London but on returning to Sydney the diagnosis turned out to be a simple cyst. Thus his first attempt to be a consultant physician was thwarted. He returned overseas but his interest had turned to ophthalmology. He spent a few happy years at the Oxford Eye Hospital, achieved DO (Oxon) and DOMS (London) and returned to set up practice in Macquarie Street, his plate announcing 'Dr. Maude : The Eye'. In 1939 he achieved his MRACP. With the outbreak of war he joined the RAAF but did not serve outside NSW. However he did become the Consul for Romania in spite of having no Romanian connections and recalled with amusement in his later years his various official duties.

The spread of his practice outside Sydney, especially in Wollongong, led to him settling in the Wollongong area, combining ophthalmology practice with Poll Hereford stud cattle breeding at Newton Park, Kembla Grange. He was admitted FRACP in 1976, he said when it was known that he had given up surgery. His marriage to Marcia (née Williamson) had passed their diamond anniversary. She survived him with their two children, John Alwyn Maude and Jacqueline Mary Wheeler, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.