Nathaniel Johnston facts for kids

Nathaniel Johnston (born 1627, died 1705) was an English doctor. He was also a political thinker and a historian who studied old things. He collected a lot of information about the history and nature of Yorkshire.

A Look at Nathaniel Johnston's Life

Nathaniel Johnston was the oldest son of John Johnston. His father was from Scotland and lived in Reedness, Yorkshire. Nathaniel's mother was Elizabeth Hobson.

Nathaniel studied medicine and became a doctor. He earned his M.D. degree from King's College, Cambridge in 1656. Before that, he got his M.A. degree from the University of St Andrews in 1654. He became a special member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1687.

He worked as a doctor in Pontefract. But he also spent a lot of time studying the history and natural world of Yorkshire.

Nathaniel became good friends with Ralph Thoresby, another historian. They first met in 1682. Later, Nathaniel stopped working as a doctor. He moved to London in 1686. There, he started writing pamphlets (small books) that strongly supported the king's power. He was known as a High Tory writer.

The Glorious Revolution in 1688 was a big political change in England. This event made things difficult for him. Nathaniel Johnston died in London in 1705. He owned land near Pontefract, which was sold after his death.

Nathaniel Johnston's Writings

Nathaniel Johnston wrote several important books. These books shared his ideas about government and history.

The Excellency of Monarchical Government

In 1686, Johnston published The Excellency of Monarchical Government. This large book discussed how good it was to have a king rule. It started with ancient history. Then it looked at the king's power in England. It also talked about how the king's power related to Parliament. He often agreed with the ideas of another thinker named Hobbes. Johnston showed he knew a lot about old English history and laws.

The Assurance of Abby and other Church Lands

In 1687, he wrote The Assurance of Abby and other Church Lands in England. This book was an answer to another writer. Johnston wanted to show that even if old religious groups came back to England, people who owned church lands taken by King Henry VIII would not lose their property.

The King's Visitatorial Power asserted

On July 23, 1688, Johnston published The King's Visitatorial Power asserted. This book defended King James II's actions at Magdalen College, Oxford. Johnston gathered information by talking to people like Anthony Wood. He also got details from the king's own officials.

He also wrote other political books. These included a volume of Enquiries. He also wrote The Dear Bargain, which was about England under Dutch influence.

Nathaniel Johnston's Legacy

For thirty years, Nathaniel Johnston studied the history of Yorkshire. He left behind more than one hundred volumes of his notes. These notes were written in a very difficult handwriting. Johnston used information from the old writings of Roger Dodsworth. He wanted to write big books about Yorkshire, like those written by William Dugdale and Robert Plot about other areas.

In 1722, his grandson, Henry Johnston, tried to get his notes printed. But it didn't happen. Edmund Gibson later used Johnston's notes when he was working on William Camden's Britannia.

Many of Johnston's notes were listed in a book called Catalogi MSS. Angliæ in 1697. After his grandson died in 1755, ninety-seven volumes of his notes were bought by Richard Frank. Frank allowed John Burton to look at them for his own history book. These notes stayed with Frank's family for a long time.

The remaining volumes of Johnston's writings were sold in 1942. They were bought by the Bodleian Library and are now kept there.

Nathaniel Johnston's Family

Nathaniel Johnston married Anne Cudworth in 1653. They had four sons and one daughter named Anne. Their oldest son, Cudworth, became a doctor in York. He died before his father in 1692. Cudworth's son, Pelham Johnston (who died in 1765), also became a doctor. He practiced medicine in London.