Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Johnston, Francis

by Lionel Henry Cust ‎

JOHNSTON, FRANCIS (1761–1829), architect, founder of the Royal Hibernian Academy, born in 1761, was son of William Johnston, architect, of Armagh. His eldest brother, Richard Johnston (d. 1806), in 1785 designed the assembly-room in the gardens of the Lying-in Hospital at Dublin. Francis was resident in Armagh from 1786 to 1793, and superintended the erection of the cathedral tower. Subsequently he removed to Dublin, where he pursued his profession and was architect and inspector of civil buildings to the board of works in Ireland. He rebuilt the upper portion of St. Andrew's Church (1793–1807) and the House of Commons; designed St. George's Church (1794–1802), to which he presented a peal of eight bells, the cash-office of the Bank of Ireland (1804), the infirmary of the Foundling Hospital, James Street (1810), the Castle chapel (1807–16), the Richmond general penitentiary (1812–20), alterations in the Bermingham tower, Dublin Castle (1813), the post-office (1815–17), and additions to the Viceregal Lodge, Kilmainham Hospital, &c. The Royal Hibernian Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture was incorporated in 1813, mainly owing to the efforts of Johnston, who was president for many years. Johnston in 1824 laid the foundation-stone of the buildings intended for the home of the institution, and erected them at his own expense; they were completed in 1826 at a cost of 14,000l., and a lease in perpetuity was granted to the Academy by Johnston. He died on 14 March 1829, and was buried in St. George's burying-ground, Dublin. Martin Creggan painted a portrait of Johnston, which is in the council chamber of the Royal Hibernian Academy. There are other portraits by J. C. Thompson (engraved), Comerford, and in a family group by Creggan.

[Burke's Landed Gentry; Dict. of Architecture; Walsh's Hist. of Dublin.]

L. C.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.169
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page	Col.	Line
61	i	3	Johnston, Francis: omit probably
		4	for Richard Johnston, who read William Johnston, architect of Armagh. A brother, Richard Johnston, who died in 1806,
		6	for He read Francis
		36	for J. C. Thompson read Martin Creggan
		37-38	for has been engraved. read is in the council chamber of the Hibernian Academy.