Charles Johnston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 12 March 1812 Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Died | 16 July 1872 (aged 60) Barnstaple, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Writing about Abyssinia (Ethiopia), founding Durban Botanic Gardens |
| Notable work | Travels in Southern Abyssinia, Through the Country of Adal to the Kingdom of Shoa |
| Spouse |
Sarah (died 1850)Frances (m. 1854) |
| Member of the Colony of Natal Legislature | |
| In office 23 March 1857 – 1861 | |
Charles Johnston MRCS (12 March 1812 – 16 July 1872) was a British surgeon, travel writer of Africa and founder of the Durban Botanic Gardens.
Johnston visited the Ethiopian Empire (then known as Abyssinia) in 1842 – 1843 and recorded his experience in a book titled Travels in Southern Abyssinia, Through the Country of Adal to the Kingdom of Shoa. His book forms an important historical account of the customs and culture of the region in the 1840s. He befriended the King of the Ethiopian kingdom of Shewa, Sahle Selassie, publishing in his book their conversations from various meetings.[1] After his travels in Ethiopia he returned to England where he became assistant editor of the Lady's Newspaper.[2] Some years later Johnston returned to Africa to settle in Durban, Colony of Natal (now part of South Africa), where he founded the Durban Botanic Gardens,[3] which is now the oldest surviving botanic gardens in Africa.[4] Johnston returned to England in 1861 and eventually settled in Barnstaple, Devon.[5]
- ^ Johnston, Charles (1844). Travels in Southern Abyssinia, Through the Country of Adal to the Kingdom of Shoa. Vol. 2. London: J Madden and Co.
- ^ McCracken, Donal (1996). A New History of The Durban Botanic Garden. Durban: the Durban Parks Department. p. 5.
- ^ McCracken, Donal (1996). A New History of The Durban Botanic Garden. Durban: the Durban Parks Department. p. 6.
- ^ Oldfield, Sara (2007). Great Botanic Gardens of the World. London: New Holland. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-84537-593-5.
- ^ McCracken, Donal (1996). A New History of The Durban Botanic Garden. Durban: the Durban Parks Department. p. 7.