Charles Johnston MRCS (12 March 1812 – 16 July 1872) was a British surgeon, travel writer of Africa and founder of the Durban Botanic Gardens.
Johnston visited the Ethiopian Empire (then known as Abyssinia) in 1842 – 1843 and recorded his experience in a book titled Travels in Southern Abyssinia, Through the Country of Adal to the Kingdom of Shoa. His book forms an important historical account of the customs and culture of the region in the 1840s. He befriended the King of the Ethiopian kingdom of Shewa, Sahle Selassie, publishing in his book their conversations from various meetings. After his travels in Ethiopia he returned to England where he became assistant editor of the Lady's Newspaper. Some years later Johnston returned to Africa to settle in Durban, Colony of Natal (now part of South Africa), where he founded the Durban Botanic Gardens, which is now the oldest surviving botanic gardens in Africa. Johnston returned to England in 1861 and eventually settled in Barnstaple, Devon.
Early life and education
Charles Johnston was the son of Thomas Johnston (1785–1866) and Elizabeth Johnston (1789–1867 née Woodiwis). Thomas Johnston was a successful silk and linen merchant who had emigrated from Scotland to England. Thomas settled for a time in Manchester where Charles Johnston was born. Thomas eventually settled in Birmingham becoming chairman of the Birmingham Water Works.
Charles Johnston had nine siblings who survived into adulthood: five sisters and four brothers. Johnston was the second eldest child and the eldest son. Three of Johnston's brothers followed him into the medical profession. Johnston was apprenticed at the age of 15 to a surgeon and apothecary called Edward Moore. He later attended Samuel Cox's 'School of Medicine and Surgery'. He became a licenciate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1833 and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1835.
Johnston wrote that since boyhood he had wished for a "life of novel and wild adventure".
Visit to the Ethiopian Empire (1842–1843)
Preparation and journey to the East African coast
In 1841 Johnston resigned a commission with the East India Company, with whom he was employed as a ship's surgeon, so that he could take an opportunity to explore East Africa. Johnston obtained letters of introduction from the British Indian government to Captain Haines the colonial administrator of Aden and to Captain Harris the British ambassador to the Kingdom of Shewa, within the Ethiopian Empire. Johnston stayed in Aden for several weeks before he received an offer from Captain Haines to be put in charge of a mission to take supplies to the British Embassy in Shewa. Johnston began his journey into East Africa by sailing from Aden to Tadjoura in February 1842 aboard the brig-of-war Euphrates captained by John Young. From there he intended to take the supplies to the embassy in Shewa. Whilst in Tadjoura he met with the local ruler, described as a sultan. Johnston was however unable to travel further on this occasion upon the advice of Captain Young, who felt that the local inhabitants of Tadjoura were unwilling to assist the mission. He therefore returned on the ship Euphrates to Aden.
Captain Haines believed that it was the presence of a war ship which had made the inhabitants of Tadjoura unwilling to assist the mission. It was therefore arranged that Johnston would approach Tadjoura on a local vessel from the city of Berbera. In Berbera Johnston met with Sharmarke Ali Saleh, the most powerful man in the region. Saleh loaned Johnston a local vessel for his onward journey to Tadjoura. Johnston returned to Tadjoura aboard the vessel on 6 March 1842.
Journey inland to Shewa
Johnston commenced his inland journey from Tadjoura with the supplies to Shewa on 27 March travelling with a camel caravan.
On 5 April 1842 Johnston reached Lake Assal. A safe passage was agreed through the territory of a local tribe Johnston called the 'Muditu' for the price of two bags of rice, date fruits and three pieces of calico. However, despite the agreement, on 10 April a slave belonging to one of the camel-owners in the caravan was murdered under cover of darkness, supposedly by the Muditu.
On 17 April 1842 Johnston came within one hour's journey of Lake Abbe, where the Awash River terminates. He wished to visit the shores of the lake, which he believed to have never before been visited by European explorers. He offered 25 dollars for accompaniment to the lake. However, his travel companions refused because the area was controlled by a hostile tribe. Johnston then resolved to visit the lake himself, but was persuaded not to go, after being told that death would be the certain consequence.