The New Student's Reference Work/Johnston, Richard Malcolm

Johnston, Richard Malcolm, an American writer, was born at Powellton, Ga., on March 8, 1822, and was educated at Mercer University.  He studied law, and was admitted to the bar.  Later he was called to the chair of literature at the University of Georgia, which he held until the outbreak of the Civil War.  He then opened a boys’ school, near Sparta, Ga., which he removed to Baltimore, Md., in 1867.  It was not until after this date that he appeared as a writer of short stories and novels, which gave him wide popularity.  In 1871 he published Dukesborough Tales, a series of southern stories and character sketches then new and charming in style and humor.  Among other works are a History of English Literature, written in collaboration with W. H. Brown; Life of Alex. H. Stephens; Studies, Literary and Social; Old Times in Middle Georgia; and Pearse Amerson’s Will.  Judge Johnston died at Baltimore, Sept. 23, 1898.