Beschreibung:

William Edwin Johnston (1821-1886) was born in Wayne Co., Ohio and studied medicine at the City Univ. of New York, finishing his courses in 1847. He returned to Ohio to join his father, Dr. Robert Clark Johnston, in his medical practice. In 1852 he went to Paris for additional medical and surgical training, not uncommon in the mid-19th century since the schools in Europe were better than American medical schools. Although he intended to return to the states, in particular New York City, but after years of study in Paris, decided to remain there. He served as a volunteer surgeon for the French Army in 1859 (Lombardy) and during the siege of Paris 1870-71. For his service in the latter, he was awarded the title of "Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor." He describes the award in a letter to his sister dated 28 March 1871 in this archive. He tells her: "It was what is called being Knighted. We cured at the American Ambulance as many again wounded men as the French Surgeons did... and we thus introduced... new and superior methods of treating grave wounds by arms of war....Coming from the Republic it is not a nobiliary title, but a title of merit, and in this sense I was glad to get it, for I am too thorough a republican to accept a nobiliary title of any rank....But,... the Republic only confers it for military services." He also tells her that an additional reason he was given the award is that he risked his own life under fire to rescue wounded French officers. (That should ease her worries!) He married Bertha Matteson (1846-1918), a native of Chicago, IL, 19 June 1866. They had one son, Robert Matteson Johnston. Many biographical sketches mention William's good looks. Some note the similarity to Albert Sidney Johnston, the Confederate general. Apparently he was a cousin of William's father (cousin once removed). While there is not a photo of Dr. Johnston in the archive, there is a cabinet card of his son, Robert, at about 18 years of age, who is also a good-looking young man. Dr. Johnston served the American community in Paris for over two decades. He was President of the American Medical Society there. He represented Ohio in the Paris Expos of 1855 and 1867. He also became a correspondent for the New York Tribune during the Crimean war. In another letter to his sister (n.d.) he mentions that she might publish the letter, but she had to do it with an introduction such as: "'The following is a copy of a private letter received by Mrs. James R. Fry of this place, from her brother Dr. W.E. Johnston, descriptive of the great battle of Solferino, at which he was present.' You will understand that my connection with the N.York papers prevents me from writing directly to other papers." He later wrote for the N.Y. Times. He was the "go to guy" for the American Ministers to France when they had questions about the local culture. One of the biographies notes that although he tried to remain anonymous, his charity and other works were so numerous, that he could not maintain anonymity. Dr. Johnston died on Valentine's Day, 1886, at his home in Paris. Much of this archive consists of versions of his biography for a number of obituaries (AMA, newspapers, etc.) One biography describes his last two months of illness somewhat graphically. There are seven letters in Johnston's hand: one to his father (Nov. 12, 1861) in which he is anxiously seeking information about the Civil War - who is in service, how are the battles going, etc. He also assures his father that his sources tell him that neither France nor England plan to recognize the Confederate States of America, but they are beginning to feel the effects of the trade restrictions. Two are to another American doctor who is coming to Paris. In these he tells the other man the best routes and carriers, and offers to meet him when he arrives, but unfortunately he has a relative staying in his spare room but would be willing to make other arrangements for the visitor. The other four letters