Charles John Johnston

Charles John Johnston (11 October 1845 – 13 June 1918) was the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand in 1890, the Jubilee year. He was Speaker of the Legislative Council for the last three years of his life.

Biography

He was born 11 October 1845 in Wellington, the son of merchant John Johnston. He was educated at Wellington Commercial and Grammar School, and was later educated in England at the Catholic College of St. Mary in Derbyshire, and at Kensington Grammar School in London. He returned to NZ in 1864 and entered Johnston & Co who were ship owners and merchants. His family was descended from the Johnston's of Annandale, through the Ayrshire Branch of the family.^[1]

He joined the volunteers and when the Wellington Brigade was formed was appointed to the rank of Captain. When he moved to the active-reserve he was appointed Captain-Commandant. Two of his sons were killed in action in World War I, Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston and Corporal Johnston. He had three others sons in the service. Johnston also had two daughters.

He represented the Te Aro electorate from 1881 to 1887, when he resigned. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1891 to 1918, and the Speaker from 1915 to 1918. He was appointed from 22 January 1891 as one of seven new members (including Harry Atkinson himself) appointed to the Council by the outgoing fourth Atkinson Ministry; a move regarded by Liberals as a stacking of the upper house against the new government.

He married Alice Margaret Featherston, daughter of Isaac Featherston, at Wellington on 12 Jan 1871. He died in Wellington on 13 June 1918 after a prolonged illness.

A brother Walter Woods Johnston was also an MP.

References

• No Mean City by Stuart Perry (1969, Wellington City Council) includes a paragraph and a portrait or photo for each mayor.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.