Charles Johnston

October 11, 1845 (age 72)

He was Speaker of the Legislative Council for the last three years of his life. He returned to New Zealand in 1864 and entered Johnston & Company who were ship owners and merchants. 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. Johnston also had three daughters - Zoë, Alice and Doris. He represented the Te Aro electorate from 1881 to 1887, when he resigned. 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 died in Wellington on 13 June 1918 after a prolonged illness. Posthumously knighted. A brother Walter Woods Johnston was also an Member of Parliament. Upon the death of Charles Skerrett in 1929, the position of Chief Justice was offered to Harold Johnston, who declined the offer, and Michael Myers became the next Chief Justice instead. Harold Johnston unsuccessfully stood for the Reform Party in the 1929 by-election in the Hutt electorate.

Charles Johnston

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politician

Background

He was born 11 October 1845 in Wellington, the son of merchant John Johnston. His family was descended from the Johnstons of Annandale, through the Ayrshire Branch of the family.

Education

He was educated at Wellington Commercial and Grammar School, and was later educated in England at the Catholic College of Saint Mary in Derbyshire, and at Kensington Grammar School in London.

Career

He was Speaker of the Legislative Council for the last three years of his life. He returned to New Zealand in 1864 and entered Johnston & Company who were ship owners and merchants. 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.

Johnston also had three daughters - Zoë, Alice and Doris. He represented the Te Aro electorate from 1881 to 1887, when he resigned.

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 died in Wellington on 13 June 1918 after a prolonged illness.

Posthumously knighted. A brother Walter Woods Johnston was also an Member of Parliament. Upon the death of Charles Skerrett in 1929, the position of Chief Justice was offered to Harold Johnston, who declined the offer, and Michael Myers became the next Chief Justice instead. Harold Johnston unsuccessfully stood for the Reform Party in the 1929 by-election in the Hutt electorate.

Membership

He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1891 until his death in 1918, and the Speaker from 1915 to 1918.

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