Background
He was born not later than 1570.
He was born not later than 1570.
University of Aberdeen.
He styled himself Aberdonensis, id est (that is) "from Aberdeen". After studying at King"s College, Aberdeen, he spent eight years at continental universities, sending home in 1587 from the University of Helmstadt a manuscript copy of George Buchanan"s Sphæra, along with two of his own epigrams. The influence of Andrew Melville may have helped Johnston to obtain the professorship of divinity at the University of Street Andrews, about 1593.
His career became closely linked with Melville"son
In 1598, when the general assembly of the Scottish church was sitting at Dundee, both were ordered from the town together, because of their opposition to church representation in parliament. In 1603 they jointly appealed with success to Philippe de Mornay against a decision of the synod of Gap on a polemical question.
Johnston had been offered the position of second minister in Haddington, East Lothian, but he retained his university chair till his death in October 1611.