John Johnston

John Johnston (January 22, 1781 – April 20, 1851) was a Scottish-American bookkeeper and merchant who was a co-founder of New York University.

Early life Johnston was born on January 22, 1781, at Barnboard Mill in the Parish of Balmaghie, Gallowayshire, Scotland. He was a son of John Johnston and Dorothea (née Proudfoot) Johnston, who married in 1780. After nine years with Lenox and Maitland, Johnston and partner James Boorman established the merchant house Boorman, Johnston, & Co. in 1813. The firm, based at 57 South Street, sold Scotch goods and, later, tobacco from Virginia and wines from Madeira and Italy. They also owned an iron warehouse at 119 Greenwich Street and, in 1828, admitted Adam Norrie as a partner.

In 1839, Johnston and several other civic-minded New Yorkers founded the University of the City of New York (today known as New York University). He was also a co-founder of Washington Square North.

Personal life On September 2, 1817, Johnston married Margaret (née Taylor) Howard (1784–1879). She was a widow of Rhesa Howard Jr., himself a nephew of William Few, signer of the U.S. Constitution from Georgia whose brother-in-law was U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. Margaret, the daughter of John Taylor and Margaret (née Scott) Taylor, had four siblings who, likewise, married two grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a nephew of founding father Roger Sherman, signer of the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Together, John and Margaret were the parents of:

John Taylor Johnston (1820–1893), who married Frances Colles (1826–1888), the daughter of Harriet (née Wetmore) Colles and James Colles, a prominent merchant in New York and New Orleans. Andrew Taylor Johnston (1821–1821), who died in infancy. James Boorman Johnston (1822–1887), who married Mary Hoppins Humphreys. He commissioned the Tenth Street Studio Building at 51 West 10th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. They were the parents of artist John Humphreys Johnston. Margaret Taylor Johnson (1825–1875), who married John Bard (a grandson of Dr. Samuel Bard) in 1849 and became founders of Bard College. Emily Proudfoot Johnston (1827–1831), who died in infancy.

Johnston, who suffered from gout, died on April 20, 1851, at his residence, 7 Washington Square in New York City. Colles Johnston (1853–1886); John Herbert Johnston (1855–1931), Eva Johnston (wife of Henry Eugene Coe); and Frances Johnston (wife of Pierre Mali, the former Belgian Consul-General in New York).