Charles John Johnston
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The Honourable Sir Charles John Johnston |
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In Speaker's robes
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| 14th Speaker of the Legislative Council | |
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In office 1915–1918 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Bowen |
| Succeeded by | Walter Carncross |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
11 October 1845 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Died | 13 June 1918 (aged 72) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Independent |
Charles John Johnston (11 October 1845 – 13 June 1918) was the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand in 1890, the Jubilee year. He was Speaker of the Legislative Council for the last three years of his life.
He was born 11 October 1845 in Wellington, the son of merchant John Johnston. He was educated at Wellington Commercial and Grammar School, and was later educated in England at the Catholic College of St. Mary in Derbyshire, and at Kensington Grammar School in London. He returned to NZ in 1864 and entered Johnston & Co who were ship owners and merchants. His family was descended from the Johnstons of Annandale, through the Ayrshire Branch of the family.
He joined the volunteers and when the Wellington Brigade was formed was appointed to the rank of Captain. When he moved to the active-reserve he was appointed Captain-Commandant. Two of his eight sons were killed in action in World War I, Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston and Captain Octavius Featherston Johnston. Another four of his sons also served in World War I - Guy, Charles, Harold and Ian Johnston. Johnston also had three daughters - Zoë, Alice and Doris. Zoë was also widowed on the death of her husband William Fitzgerald Levin from injuries suffered at Gallipoli.
He represented the Te Aro electorate from 1881 to 1887, when he resigned. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1891 until his death in 1918, and the Speaker from 1915 to 1918. He was appointed from 22 January 1891 as one of seven new members (including Harry Atkinson himself) appointed to the Council by the outgoing fourth Atkinson Ministry; a move regarded by Liberals as a stacking of the upper house against the new government.
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