William Borthwick Johnstone RSA 1804-1868

William B. Johnstone was born in Edinburgh in 1804. Originally educated for the law, hi strong artistic tastes induced him somewhat late i his life to embrace painting as a profession, and he was not unsuccessful, having been elected an Associate at the RSA in 1840 and an Academician in 1848.

He is literary and contemporary duties and an extensive knowledge of the history and literature of Art, pointed him out as especially fitted for the post od Curator of the National Gallery; which he was appointed in 1858.

He contributed to various periodicals, biographies of Artists and articles on Art. He died after a long illness in 1868.

RSA Obituary transcribed from the 1868 RSA Annual Report