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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Joseph Marr Johnston
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
Exact Date
Exact DOB:
26/04/1871
Year of Birth :
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Year Only
Exact DOD:
24/06/1926
Year of Death:
1934
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
Joseph Marr Johnston was born in Leith on 26 April 1871 and educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh. He was articled to Robert Rowand Anderson from December 1885 to 1891, and was subsequently assistant clerk of works at the University of Edinburgh for four years, thereafter moving to William Nicholas Thomson's office in Leith as chief assistant before setting up his own practice at 34 Bernard Street, Leith in 1900. He quickly established himself by winning the competition for Leith Poorhouse and took a larger office at 56 Constitution Street, Leith which was redesignated 47 Queen Charlotte Street in 1904. Thereafter he became architect to Leith Parish Council, Edinburgh Parish Council, Leith School Board and the Navy and Army Canteen Board.
Johnston was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, by which time he had carried out work in independent practice to a total value of £100,000. His proposers were the then chairman of Leith School Board and the minister of the parish of South Leith. A letter accompanying his application explains the absence of fellow architects among his proposers at this time: 'During the last 10 years or so I have been so much tied up in this town as to have got out of touch with the members of the Institute with whom I am acquainted and have some reluctance in asking them to vouch for me now as I have no reason to believe they are acquainted with work I have done.' He appears to have re-established his professional connections by 1926 when he was elected FRIBA on 14 June, his proposers this time being Thomas Forbes Maclennan, John James Joass and Alexander Lorne Campbell.
During the First World War he carried out work for the Army Canteen Board in Scotland in collaboration with E M Joseph of London, and designed hospitals for the American Navy and various buildings for the American Red Cross, British Red Cross and War Department.
He was a member of the Scottish Conservative Club, and a prominent freemason: Master of Lodge Trafalgar, Grand Architect of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and one of the founders of the Watsonian Masonic Lodge and its architect. He was also musical, being for long principal bass singer in the choir of St Giles Cathedral but in his later years he suffered from deafness. He had two sons and two daughters: the elder son James Stewart Johnston became a partner in 1930 and continued the practice alone after his father's death while on holiday in Oban in 1934. The younger son Frank W Johnston did not become a partner until 1947, when the firm became J & F Johnston.
'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Private Addresses
Private Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From Char
Date From Type
Date To Char
Date To Type
Notes
115 Ferry Road Edinburgh Scotland
Private
5 Derby Street Trinity Edinburgh Scotland
Private
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
85 Constitution Street Leith Edinburgh Scotland
Business
c. 1898
c. 1899
34 Bernard Street Leith Edinburgh Scotland
Business
1900
Before 1904
56 Constitution Street Leith Edinburgh Scotland
Business
c. 1900
1904
Street redesignated 47 Queen Charlotte Street in 1904
47 Charlotte Street Leith Edinburgh Scotland
Business
1904
1934
New name for 34 Bernard Street
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4
Employment and Training
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):
Employers2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Wardrop, Anderson & Browne
200077
1885/12
1885/12
Apprentice
Wardrop & Anderson
200078
1885/12
In year 1891
Apprentice
William Nicholas Thomson
200579
In year 1895
In year 1900
Chief Assistant
row(s) 1 - 3 of 3
Employees or Pupils
The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):
Employees or Pupils2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Robert Edward Thomas Stockdale
204682
1923/04
In year 1928
Apprentice
James Stewart Johnston
201717
1926/01
In year 1930
Assistant
Frank Wood Johnston
201718
After 1921
In year 1934
Assistant
William Henry Johnson (junior)
201735
In year 1903
In year 1904
Assistant
George Angus Sutherland
202734
In year 1904
In year 1906
Assistant
James Stewart Johnston
201717
In year 1918
In year 1920
Began training
Colin William Glendinning
100503
In year 1927
In year 1932
Apprentice
Robert Edward Thomas Stockdale
204682
In year 1928
In year 1931
Junior Assistant
James Stewart Johnston
201717
In year 1930
In year 1934
Partner
row(s) 1 - 9 of 9
RIBA Proposers
The following individuals proposed this person for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic
Proposer
Proposer Link
Date Proposed
Notes
Thomas Forbes Maclennan
100404
1926/06/14
for Fellowship
John James Joass
200202
1926/06/14
for Fellowship
Alexander Lorne Campbell
200379
1926/06/14
for Fellowship
row(s) 1 - 3 of 3
Buildings and Designs
This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
Buildings and Designs2 classic
Building Name
Date Started
Town, District or Village
Island
City or County
Country
Notes
National Portrait Gallery and Museum of Antiquities
In year 1885
Edinburgh
Scotland
As apprentice to Robert Rowand Anderson
University of Edinburgh, Medical School and McEwan Hall
In year 1887
Edinburgh
Scotland
McEwan Hall - as assistant to Wardrop & Anderson
Hoddom Castle
In year 1889
Ecclefechan
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Survey plans and new lodge
Dunblane Cathedral
In year 1889
Dunblane
Perthshire
Scotland
Restoration - as apprentice to Robert Rowand Anderson
St Giles Cathedral
After 1900
Edinburgh
Scotland
Organ case
Burlington Street Stables
After 1900
Leith
Edinburgh
Scotland
Jenkinson's Premises
After 1900
Leith?
Edinburgh?
Scotland
Mission Hall
After 1900
Leith
Edinburgh
Scotland
Villas, Inverleith Place
After 1900
Inverleith
Edinburgh
Scotland
Dollar Academy, pavilion
After 1900
Dollar
Clackmannanshire
Scotland
Sketch plans
Batsford Jenks & Co
After 1900
United States of America
Children's Home
After 1900
Ceres
Fife
Scotland
Additions and alterations
Leith Docks, grain elevator
After 1900
Leith
Edinburgh
Scotland
Premises for Hislop & Day
After 1900
Edinburgh
Scotland
Premises for John Wood
After 1900
Edinburgh
Scotland
row(s) 1 - 15 of 64
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References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
Post Office Directories
British Architectural Library, RIBA
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914
2001
Bailey, Rebecca M
Scottish architects' papers: a source book
1996
Edinburgh: The Rutland Press
Johnston, James S
J & F Johnston & Partners: a brief history of the firm
1979
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this person:
Period ref classic
Periodical Name
Publisher
Date Circ
Edition
Notes
RIBA Journal
1934/10/13
v41
p1069 - obituary
Builder
1934/10/13
*
Obituary
Scotsman
1934/09/03
*
Obituary
RIAS Quarterly
1934
47
Obituary
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this person:
Arc ref classic
Archive Name
Source
Source Cat No
Building Id
Item Name
Notes
RIBA Nomination Papers
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum
100005
L v18 no1372; F no2400 (box 6)
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1