James Finlay Weir Johnston

Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Johnston was educated at University of Glasgow, where he studied Theology and graduated MA.

He visited the chemist J. J. Berzelius in Sweden and was a co-founder of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

[4] He was appointed reader in Chemistry and Mineralogy at Durham University on its foundation in 1833, but continued to reside in Edinburgh out of term.

[6] In his Notes on North America, Johnston reported that the Provincial soils were more productive than those of New York or Ohio.

[7] Johnston's works are available through Internet Archive: In 1830 he married the daughter of Thomas Ridley of Durham.