J..E. Masters sea captain and businessman, was born at Amherst, Nova Scotia on 26 January 1848, a son of Arthur Wellesley and Hannah Cutten. He had 3 brothers: Arthur W., also a sea captain, died in 1909; Charles H.; and Harry B. and several sisters.

J.E. Masters moved to Saint John, New Brunswick, with his parents at an early age. He received his education at Jarvis Hartt High School in Saint John then went to sea for more than 20 years. As a captain, J.E. Masters sailed the world in command of at least two vessels, "Muskota" and the "Berteaux", both built by C.W. Berteaux's company in New York. He married Annie Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Taylor of Moncton, N.B., on 22 May 1878. After marriage, he settled in Moncton and began a coal business. In 1902, he became associated with Frank Hall as J.E. Masters & Co. Some years later, while continuing his coal business, J.E. Masters formed a partnership with William Snow in an insurance business was incorporated in 1922 as Masters & Wheeler.

At the outbreak of World War I, Captain Masters became chairman of the Westmorland County Victory Loan Committee, 1917-1919 and later, president of Associated Kin of Expeditionary Forces. He was an alderman of Moncton for 3 years and elected mayor of that city in 1917.

J.E. Masters was a prominent Freemason and among other offices he was a Past Master of Keith Lodge, F. and A. M. in Moncton and Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in New Brunswick. Captain J.E. Masters had an avid interest in the history of New Brunswick and was a member of the executive of the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John. Many of the Museum's collections were acquired through his appeals to his friends and the public to donate historical collections to the museum.

As a member of the Board of Directors and secretary of the Petitcodiac Tidal Power Company, Masters was involved in the proposed development of the tidal waters of the Petitcodiac River as a source of electric energy. Captain Masters was an ardent fisherman and had been a member of the Adagwasook Fishing Club and the Albert Fishing Club. He was also active in other organizations. He had been one of the past presidents of the Moncton branch of the Canadian Club, the Moncton Board of Trade and the Maritime Board of Trade. J.E. Masters was a very strong supporter of the Moncton Y.M.C.A., contributed generously toward its upkeep and had been a member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, Captain Masters had been president of the Moncton Amateur Athletic Association.

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