George Lindsay Johnstone

Politician George Lindsay Johnstone was buried in the south cloister of Westminster Abbey on 27th November 1813. His gravestone is no longer readable but is opposite the effigy of Abbot Gilbert Crispin. The inscription was recorded in the 19th century and read:

"Here lies the body of George Lindsay Johnstone Esq. formerly of the East India Comp.[Company] service in Bengal and many years MP for the borough of Heydon".

A monument, signed by sculptor John Flaxman 1815, was erected for him, which was originally in the north aisle of the nave (above Admiral Baker's monument). It was moved (by 1870) to the first bay of the north choir aisle and then to the last bay of this aisle. It was moved from there up to the eastern triforium, where it can be seen in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries.

The inscription reads:

To the memory of the most affectionate of brothers George Lindsay Johnstone Esqr. this monument is erected by his afflicted sister. His remains are interred in the south cloister.

It shows a mourning woman lying prostrate over a coffin on which is a profile portrait in a roundel.

His life

He was baptised in Pensacola, Florida USA on 10th December 1764, an illegitimate son of Royal Navy captain George Johnstone (1730-1787), Member of Parliament and colonial governor of West Florida, and Martha Ford. (The Captain's wife was Charlotte Dee).

He worked for the East India Company and was a Persian interpreter to the Governor General and acting resident at Lucknow. He was a Member of Parliament for Aldeburgh and Hedon and died unmarried. His illegitimate daughters were Sophia and Ann.

His brother was Alexander Patrick Johnstone and his sisters Emily and Sophia. Sophia married Francis Platamone, Count St Antonio and their son George, aged two years, was buried in the cloister. An inscription was added to the grave of George Lindsay Johnstone which read "Also George Wellington Francis Balthasar, infant son of Francis and Sophia Platamone, Count and Countess of St Antonio, born 30th September 1815, died 17 May 1817". The family lived at 20 Hanover Square, Westminster.

Further reading

For George the elder: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

For George and his father: History of Parliament online