John Berrien Lindsley was born on October 24, 1822, in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of Philip and Margaret Lawrence Lindsley. He received his B.A. from the University of Nashville in 1839 and his medical degree from the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1843.

Ordained a minister by the Presbytery of Nashville in 1846, Lindsley served as minister of several churches around Nashville for two years. He also ministered African-Americans under appointment of the Presbyterian Board of Domestic Missions. Lindsley attended Andrew Jackson at his death. Throughout the remainder of his life, he practiced medicine in addition to his other duties.

Lindsley was highly influential in Tennessee education. He organized Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville in 1867, was Health Officer of Nashville from 1876-1880, and was a member of the Board of Education of Nashville from 1856-1860. Additionally, Lindsley served as Superintendent of the Schools of Nashville in 1866 and was Secretary of the Tennessee Board of Education from 1875-1887. He served as President of the University of Nashville and later as Chancellor of George Peabody College for Teachers.

Lindsley was also an author and historian with writings consisting primarily of articles, pamphlets, and reports. In 1866, he published Military Annals of Tennessee, Confederate, Series I.

Lindsley married Sarah McGavock in 1857; they had six children. He passed away in 1897.