WILLIAM JOHNSTONE

    BORN at Moffat in 1859, and educated at Moffat Academy and Glasgow University, Mr. Johnstone passed as a law agent in 1882. After serving an apprenticeship to Sir James Marwick, Town Clerk, he was appointed Sir James's personal assistant, with special charge of the Parliamentary work of the city. He also acted as secretary and legal adviser, under Sir James, to the Corporation Tramways and Telephones Departments from their initiation. He was appointed one of the Town Clerk Deputes of the city in 1900, but resigned the post in 1903 in order to join the long-established legal firm of Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie. As an expert on Private Bill work he was called on by the Special Committee of the House of Commons on the Welsh Private Legislation Bill to give evidence as to the working of the Scottish Private Bill system of procedure introduced by Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Act of 1900.
    In private life Mr. Johnstone is an office-bearer in the United Free Church, and has acted as one of the law agents of that church in the complicated position arising out of the House of Lords' decision of 1904. For six years he edited the Young Men's Christian Magazine. Finding his recreation in walking and golf, he originated two successful golf clubs, the Eastwood and the Western.

Back to Index of Glasgow Men (1909)