1800s Marine Photographer Johnston
In an era before the automobile or airplane, the sleek and graceful racing yachts of 1800s New York were the real hot ticket. John S. Johnston (c.1839- December 17, 1899) was a late 19th-century maritime and landscape photographer. He became known for his photographs of racing yachts and New York City landmarks and cityscapes.
The photography is absolutely stunning, and garners reprints to this day. Very little is known about his life. He was evidently born in Britain in the late 1830s, and was active in the New York City area in the late 1880s and 1890s. He died in 1899. He died at Niagara Falls of heart trouble. Strangely he would not give his personal information to anyone, even when he was told that his death was near. Apparently, he caught a severe cold taking photographs of the Columbia-Shamrock races and left to Niagara Falls “to benefit his health”. Johnston's photographs were published in Outing magazine, Forest and Stream (now Field and Stream), and other 1890s periodicals featuring yacht racing.
Famous ships appear in his photos, each with a unique story behind them. For example, “Defender”, the victorious defender of the 1895 America’s Cup against British challenger Valkyrie III. The boat was designed in the utmost secrecy with her construction shrouded in mystery. Johnston was also an active canoeist. According to Forest and Stream magazine, he was "one of the old-time disciples of MacGregor; taking up canoeing as a boy in England when the sport was still a novelty." He reportedly worked in partnership with C. Miller at one time, and his office was located at various times at 508 W. 158th Street as well as 494 W. 166th St., and 783 Broadway in New York City.
Photograph of “Defender”, America’s Cup winner in 1895
