John Mulgan was the son of Alan Edward and Marguerita Blomfield Mulgan (nee Pickmere), of Eastbourne, Wellington; husband of Angela Gabrielle Mulgan

John attended Maungawhau School, Wellington College and Auckland Grammar School. In 1929 he won a university scholarship and attended Auckland University College, and Merton College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar.

He is a significant New Zealand author with his reputation based on two works: 'Man alone' (1939) and the memoir 'Report on Experience' (1947).

Mulgan was negotiating a transfer to the 2nd New Zealand Division in January 1945 when he received promotion to the rank of temporary Lieutenant Colonel, with orders to return to Athens to locate and compensate the Greeks who had fought for Force 133. AWMM