 As a cricketer, he played two-first class games for Nelson in 1886.Littlejohn was born in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Wilson Littlejohn, a watchmaker and jeweller, and his wife Margaret, née Gordon.Educated at the board schools at Alford and Peterhead, and Aberdeen Grammar School, Littlejohn then entered the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in 1879.