Charles Johnstone
Charles Johnstone was an Irish writer and lawyer, born around 1719 in Carrigogunnell, County Limerick, Ireland. He studied at Trinity College in Dublin but did not graduate. After moving to England to practice law, Johnstone faced challenges due to his deafness, leading him to focus on researching legal cases and writing. He achieved notable success with his satirical novel "Chrysal: Or, The Adventures of a Guinea," published in 1760, which cleverly explored themes of morality and politics through the journey of a gold coin among various characters of differing social classes. Despite his literary success, Johnstone faced financial difficulties and personal losses, prompting him to eventually move to India for new opportunities.
In India, he worked as a journalist under the pen name Oneiropolos and invested in property, leading to financial prosperity. Johnstone's writing gained recognition in Europe, with his humor and characterizations praised by contemporaries, including Sir Walter Scott. His work inspired other authors, particularly his unique narrative style where objects tell stories. Johnstone is believed to have died around 1800 in Calcutta, leaving his wealth to his wife's relatives.
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Charles Johnstone
Author
- Born: c. 1719
- Birthplace: Carrigogunnel, County Limerick, Ireland
- Died: c. 1800
- Place of death: Calcutta, India
Biography
Charles Johnstone was born circa 1719. Information concerning his early life is scarce. Historians agree that Johnstone’s birthplace was at Carrigogunnell in County Limerick, Ireland. They believe he belonged to the Johnstone family originating at Annandale in Dumfriesshire. Johnstone lived in Dublin, Ireland, while he attended Trinity College. Records do not indicate that he graduated. Interested in law, Johnstone settled in England to practice that profession. Because he was deaf, Johnstone encountered obstacles to working in court. He applied his legal expertise to researching cases and preparing documents for clients.
Johnstone became a writer to earn money in addition to legal fees he collected. When he traveled to Devon, England, to stay with the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe, Johnstone wrote two volumes of his most successful work, the satirical novel Chrysal: Or, The Adventures of a Guinea, first published in 1760. Johnstone’s story followed a gold coin as it moved between different owners and places. His characters, representing diverse socioeconomic classes, desired possession of the coin for various reasons and often behaved inappropriately in its presence. Johnstone’s depictions risked allegations of libel because they resembled or identified notable people. He interspersed his stories with essays and comments discussing morality and interjected his opinions about contemporary topics, especially politics and war, suggesting leaders’ possible misconduct. Reader demand resulted in Johnstone’s publisher quickly releasing three editions. Because readers wanted more, he penned two additional volumes by 1765.
Johnstone continued to write novels during the 1770’s and 1780’s, often incorporating locations and characters from Ireland. Johnstone married an Englishwoman whose identity was not recorded in biographical information relevant to Johnstone. Because a publisher and theater producer cheated Johnstone of his royalties, he worried about becoming impoverished. His wife died, so the widowed Johnstone decided to seek professional opportunities outside England and distance himself from people he might have upset with his writing.
Johnstone arranged for passage on the Brilliant to India. Prior to embarking, he had contacted people he had helped legally, convinced they might assist him find employment. Johnstone also sought guidance from the Madras governor, Lord Macartney, whom he had befriended as a young man. Starting his voyage during May, 1782, he survived the ship wrecking near Africa. Rescued, he continued his travels and landed at Calcutta.
Johnstone secured paying work as a journalist. Signing his articles with the pen name Oneiropolos, he contributed items to newspapers throughout Bengal. His writing, however, did not provide most of his income. Johnstone invested in property and a periodical in Bengal. Those business strategies generated wealth for Johnstone. Most sources indicated that Johnstone died circa 1800 at Calcutta, and bequeathed his riches to his wife’s relatives.
Although his writing alienated some prominent people, Johnstone received critical support from Sir Walter Scott. Reviewers praised Johnstone’s satirical humor, dialogue, and characterization. Because Johnstone’s work appealed to eighteenth century audiences throughout Europe, his publishers frequently issued reprints and arranged translations for French readers. Some authors mimicked Johnstone’s literary device in which objects narrate stories.