John Johnstone (physician) facts for kids
John Johnstone (1768–1836) was an important British doctor and writer. He was known for his medical work and for writing about the lives of famous people.
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John Johnstone's Early Life and Education
John Johnstone was born in 1768 in Kidderminster, England. He was the sixth son of James Johnstone, who was also a doctor. John studied at the Kidderminster Free School. Later, he went to Merton College, Oxford, starting in 1786. He earned several degrees there, including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1789 and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1800.
His Medical Career and Achievements
After finishing his studies, Johnstone began working as a doctor in Worcester from 1793 to 1799. He then moved to Birmingham, where he became a very busy doctor. From 1801 to 1833, he worked as a physician at the Birmingham General Hospital.
Johnstone became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1805. This is a very respected group for doctors. In 1815, he also became a member of the Royal Society, which is a famous group for scientists. In 1819, he gave a special speech called the Harveian Oration, which is a great honor for doctors. In 1834, he was the president of a big meeting for doctors called the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association.
John Johnstone passed away in Birmingham on December 28, 1836, when he was 68 years old.
John Johnstone's Writings and Discoveries
Johnstone was good friends with a famous scholar named Samuel Parr. He wrote a book about Parr's life called Memoirs in 1828. Parr had even helped him with some of his own writings.
Johnstone also published several important works:
- He wrote an essay about "Mineral Poisons" in a book by his father in 1795.
- In 1800, he published a book called On Madness. This book discussed mental health topics like hereditary insanity and how people with mental illness were cared for.
- In 1803, he wrote An Account of the Discovery of the Power of Mineral Acid Vapours to Destroy Contagion. This book was about using special vapors to stop the spread of diseases. This work led to a disagreement with another doctor, James Carmichael Smyth, about who discovered this method first.
- He wrote a reply to Dr. Smyth in 1805, defending his father's work and his own claims.
- He also published speeches he gave, including his "Presidential Address" in 1834 and an "Address at the Birmingham School of Medicine" in the same year.
John Johnstone's Family Life
John Johnstone married Anna Delicia Curtis on December 26, 1809. She was the daughter of Captain George Curtis. They had two daughters together. Their first daughter, Anna Delicia, was born in 1811 and later married Walter Farquhar Hook. Their second daughter, Agnes Mary, was born in 1814 and married the Reverend Henry Clarke.
