Joseph Johnstone

Joseph Johnstone (1860 – 13 January 1931) was a Scottish Liberal politician. Family and education Johnstone was born in Salford but was of Scottish descent. He was the eldest son of Robert Johnstone a cabinet manufacturer. He was educated at Crummock School in Beith in Ayrshire, a town renowned for its furniture making industries. In 1882 he married Jane Clerk, the daughter of Alexander Muir of Beith and they had two sons and three daughters. Johnstone was widowed in 1917 and did not remarry. Career Jonhstone followed his father into the furniture business, going on to become head of his own furniture manufacturing concern with works situated at Lochwinnoch. Local government service Johnstone was first elected as a member of Renfrewshire County Council when it came into existence in 1889. He served as Chairman of Renfrewshire National Insurance Committee, Chairman of Renfrewshire Tuberculosis Committee and Chairman of Renfrewshire Joint Sanatorium Board.