Background
Henry Halcro Johnston was born at Orphir House, Orkney, on 13 September 1856, the fifth son of James Johnston Justice of the Peace, 11th Laird of Coubister, Orkney - a descendant of the brother of James Johnston (1724–1800).
Botanist horticulturist rugby union player
Henry Halcro Johnston was born at Orphir House, Orkney, on 13 September 1856, the fifth son of James Johnston Justice of the Peace, 11th Laird of Coubister, Orkney - a descendant of the brother of James Johnston (1724–1800).
He was educated at Dollar Academy, followed by the Collegiate School of Edinburgh, and finally at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated Bachelor of Medicine, Certificated Master in 1880. In 1893 and in the same year took the Bachelor of Science, proceeding Doctor of Science (Public Health) in 1894.
He proceeded Doctor of Medicine Having qualified as a doctor, Johnston entered the army as a surgeon on 30 July 1881. He went on to serve on the North-West Frontier of India, from 1897 to 1898, where he was in charge of British Number. I Field Hospital, and was active in operations in the Malakand, in Bajaur, in the Mahmund country, and in Buner, including the action at Laudakai and the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass.
He was mentioned in dispatches on 22 April 1898, and received the India Medal with the Punjab Frontier 1897-1898 clasp.
He then served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, from 1899 to 1902, and was active in operations in Natal. He was mentioned in dispatches, on 2 February 1901 and on 29 July 1902.
However, after his retirement he rejoined for service in the First World War, when he served as Assistant Director of Medical Services at Glasgow and at York, and as Deputy Director of Medical Services at Gibraltar. He received the C.B.E. for his services.
Johnston was a noted rugby football player.
He played for his school and university and was selected to play as full-back for Scotland against both Ireland and England in 1877. In these matches, he was recorded as being an Edinburgh Collegiate player. After joining Edinburgh University he did not again receive an international cap, but for three years he played as a forward in the Edinburgh University fifteen.
He was the author of numerous contributions to scientific journals.
His work was based around the plants he had collected in Afghanistan, Mauritius, Canaries, Madeira, Egypt, Gambia, Natal, India, and Sierra Leone. He then collected in the Orkney Islands from 1919.
He contributions were particularly focussed on the flora of Mauritius and the islands of Orkney and Shetland and published in the Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. After retirement he settled at Orphir, in his native Orkney, where he was a deputy lieutenant of the county.
As a member of Edinburgh University Reconstruction Finance Corporation he represented Scotland in 1877 and went on to make a significant contribution to botany and horticulture through his meticulous collection and recording of plant species during and after his distinguished military career.