Christopher Nicholson Johnston

Christopher Nicholson Johnston, Lord Sands FRSE (18 October 1857 – 26 February 1934) was a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland and Unionist Party (Scotland) MP for the Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities constituency between two by-elections in 1916 and 1917. He was an expert on Church Law and represented the Church of Scotland on many occasions.

Life

He was born on 18 October 1857 in Kincardine, daughter of Reverend Nicholson of Whithorn, and James Johnston of Mansionhouse of Sands (in Fife).

He studied law at Madras College, University of St Andrews, the University of Edinburgh and Heidelberg.

After training as a lawyer he made rapid progress in the profession: Advocate (1880); Advocate Depute (1892); Sheriff of Caithness, Orkney & Zetland (1899–1900); Sheriff of Inverness, Elgin & Nairn (1900–1905); Sheriff of Perthshire (1905–1916); Kings Counsel (10 June 1902). He was Procurator to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1907–1918). He became a judge in 1908.

He served as an MP representing St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities 1916–17.

In 1917 he was created a Senator of the College of Justice and given the title Lord Sands.

From 1919 he was President of the Scottish Boys' Brigade. From 1921 he chaired the Carnegie Trust for University Education.

He died in Edinburgh on 26 February 1934, aged 76. He is buried in the modern extension to Dean Cemetery off Queensferry Road in western Edinburgh. His grave lies against the north wall in the modern equivalent of Lord's Row in the original cemetery, forming one off a group of senators of the college of justice buried together. His wife lies with him.

Family In 1898 he married Agnes ("Nancy") Warren Dunn (1868–1955) of Dunmullin. They had two daughters and two sons, including James Wellwood Johnston and Alice Crawford Johnston CBE. They lived at 4 Heriot Row in Edinburgh's New Town.

Publications

short stories