John Creswell was the son of W. E. Creswell of Ewhurst, Surrey. He married Chrystal Hawkshaw in 1926, with whom he had one son.

He was a student at the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, 1927; was promoted Commander, 1929; and served in the submarine L33, 1929, and as staff officer (operations) to Admiral Brand in the Atlantic Fleet flagship. He was an instructor at the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, 1930-2. He commanded the sloop HMS Falmouth on the China Station, 1932-3. He was staff officer (operations) to Rear-Admiral Raikes, based in Alexandria, 1936, and then joined the Training and Staff Duties Division of the Admiralty, 1936-7 and from 1939, where he was mainly concerned with the instruction of Merchant Navy officers. During 1938 he was on the staff of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

He died on 20 July 1973.

His publications include: "Naval Warfare" (1936); "Sea Warfare, 1939-1945" (1950); "Generals and Admirals" (1952); and "British Admirals of the Eighteenth Century" (1972).