James Finlay Weir Johnston facts for kids
James Finlay Weir Johnston (born September 13, 1796 – died September 18, 1855) was an important Scottish scientist. He was a chemist who studied agriculture and minerals. He helped farmers understand how chemistry could improve their crops and soil.
His Life and Work
James Johnston was born in a town called Paisley in Scotland. He went to the University of Glasgow where he studied theology, which is the study of religion. He earned a master's degree there.
In 1825, Johnston started a grammar school in Durham, England. This school later joined with other local schools. Today, it is known as Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, keeping his name alive!
In 1830, James Johnston got married and became quite wealthy. This allowed him to spend all his time studying chemistry, which he loved. He even visited a famous chemist named J. J. Berzelius in Sweden. Johnston also helped start the British Association for the Advancement of Science, a group that helps scientists share their discoveries.
He became a member of important science groups, like the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1832 and the Royal Society of London in 1837. These are big honors for scientists.
In 1833, when Durham University was first created, Johnston was asked to teach chemistry and mineralogy there. Even though he taught in Durham, he often lived in Edinburgh when classes weren't in session. Later, another chemist named Augustus Voelcker became his helper and also taught about chemistry for farming.
In 1849, a government group in New Brunswick, Canada, asked Johnston to study their land. He wrote a report called Notes on North America. In it, he said that the soil in New Brunswick was even better for farming than the soil in places like New York or Ohio in the United States.
James Johnston passed away in Durham, England, on September 18, 1855. He was buried in a churchyard near a village called Sunderland Bridge. He chose this quiet spot instead of being buried in Durham City. This was because he wanted to make sure his burial wouldn't affect the city's drinking water, which came from local springs.
His Published Works
You can find some of James Johnston's books online through the Internet Archive:
- 1845: Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology (A simple guide to chemistry and geology for farming)
- 1851: Notes on North America: agricultural, economical and social, volume 1
- 1851: Notes on North America: agricultural, economical and social, volume 2
- 1855: Chemistry of Common Life, volume 1, first edition (About the chemistry of everyday things)
- 1855: Chemistry of Common Life, volume 2, first edition
His Family Life
In 1830, James Johnston married the daughter of a man named Thomas Ridley from Durham.
