William Hartshorne Johnston was born on October 19, 1861 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the son of William Hartshorne and Mary (Neele) Johnston. His father served as paymaster during the Civil War and rose to lieutenant-colonel and deputy paymaster-general after the war.
The Johnston's early education was received in the city of his birth, followed by attendance at the Academy (1875 - 77) and O'Fallon Polytechnic Institute (1878 - 79) of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.
Following his entry into the regular service, he had attended the Infantry and Calvary School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was rated an honor graduate in 1887. While serving as Professor of Military Science at St. Louis University he enrolled at Washington University, and he received his LL. B. degree in 1897.
From 1878 to 1882 William Johnston had militia service as private, corporal, and sergeant in the Lafayette Guards and as first lieutenant, Prescott Rifles, Arizona. On October 10, 1883, he was commissioned second lieutenant, United States army, and he had advanced to the rank of major, 46th Volunteer Regiment of Infantry, by May 31, 1901, when he was honorably mustered out of his volunteer status and reverted to regular army rank of captain.
After the graduation from Calvary School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he served in the Philippines from 1901 to 1907. For a part of that time he served as governor of the Province of Isabela. Returning to the United States, he did troop duty until named to the General Staff in Washington, D. C. , where he served from 1914 to 1917.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Johnston held the rank of brigadier-general, National Army. In 1917 he organized the Texas Brigade which later became the 180th Brigade of the 90th Division, American Expeditionary Force.
On August 8, 1918, he was promoted to major-general, and later in the same month he took command of the 91st Division, serving with great distinction in several major engagements in France. Returning to the United States upon the cessation of the war, he demobilized his division and then attended the General Staff College, graduating in July 1920. He then joined the American Forces in Germany, serving there as chief of staff from August 25, 1920, to May 11, 1921.
He had received his commission as brigadier-general in the regular army on April 30, 1921. His next European assignments were as liaison officer, French Army on the Rhine, and later as senior advisor to the American delegation, Commission of Jurists at The Hague. Returning to the United States in 1923, Johnston commanded the 4th Coast Artillery district and later the 3rd Division until his retirement on October 19, 1925. He was promoted major-general in the regular army on November 3, 1924.
He was attending a ball at Nice when he suffered a heart attack, from which he died early the following morning. His body was returned to the United States for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D. C.
William Hartshorne Johnston's chief achievement came during the World War I when he was promoted to major-general on August 8, 1918, and then commanded the 180th Infantry Brigade, and then the 91st Division. He then served in the American Forces in Germany as chief of staff from August 25, 1920, to May 11, 1921. Johnston received many honors and decorations during his lifetime: Silver Star Citation for heroic service in the Philippines; Distinguished Service Cross for outstanding service in the Meuse-Argonne; Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership of the 91st Division; Victory Medal with four clasps for service in the World War; commander, Legion of Honor; croix de guerre with palm; and commander, Order of Leopold I of Belgium. Johnston also achieved success in his European assignments where he served as a liaison officer, French Army on the Rhine, and later as senior advisor to the American delegation, Commission of Jurists at The Hague. Another achievement was in receiving a promotion to the rank of major-general in the regular army on November 3, 1924.
Throughout his life Johnston was an extremely energetic man, and in his Philippine service, as well as later on in France, he displayed great personal courage.
William Hartshorne Johnston was married in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 27, 1888, to Lucille Barat Wilkinson. She died August 6, 1917. On March 17, 1923, he was married to Isabelle Gros of Paris, France.
1860–1892
1863–1931
1889–1935
1895–1896
1869–1917
1838–1878
1890–1942
1876–1936
1824–1896
