Johnston Alexander Keith

Johnston, Alexander Keith, was born at Kirkhill, near Edinburgh, in 1804, and educated at the High School. Joining his brother as an engraver and printer, he took up map-making and general geography with ardour, and produced in 1843 the National Atlas, which won for him the position of Scottish Geographer Royal. His splendid Physical Atlas appeared in 1848, and was followed by the Diciionarij of Geography, The Royal Atlas, and many other valuable publications. Most of the learned and scientific bodies of Europe bestowed honours upon him, and in 1871, the year of his death, he received the Victoria Medal of the Royal Geographical Society. His son of the same name assisted in his later enterprises, but only survived him eight years.