George Johnston, a Scottish naturalist, born in 1798, died in Berwick-on-Tweed, July 3, 1855. After serving a medical apprenticeship with Dr. Abercrombie of Edinburgh, he entered the university of that city, where he graduated in 1819. Subsequently he settled as a medical practitioner at Berwick-on-Tweed. Amid many arduous professional duties he cultivated natural history with an enthusiasm and a success which rendered the place of his residence " one of the most classic localities in Great Britain." Apart from numerous papers contributed to the "Edinburgh Philosophical Journal" and other scientific periodicals, he published two works of first-rate importance: " History of British Zoophytes" (2d ed., 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1847), and "History of British Sponges and Lithophytes " (8vo, 1842). In 1850 appeared his "Introduction to Conchology," with an abundance of illustrations. His latest work was " The Natural History of the Eastera Borders" (vol. i., "Botany," 8vo, 1854), and he was engaged at the time of his death upon a complete work on British annelids.

He is considered one of the most accomplished contributors to the literature of natural history, and was one of the founders of the Ray society.