 St John's College was founded in Southsea, Portsmouth in 1908 by the De La Salle Brothers as an independent boys' school.The founding headmaster was Brother Firme of Quiévy, France.The Catholic De La Salle Brothers supported the ethos and ideals of Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers, and the Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.