Harry H. Johnston

Harry H. Johnston, full name Harry Hamilton Johnston (1858-1927), British botanist, explorer, and colonial administrator. He made two botanical expeditions to Africa—to Angola and the Congo River region (1882-83) and to Kilimanjaro (1884)—where he not only collected valuable scientific data but also strengthened British interests in East Africa. After joining the British consular service in 1885, Johnston helped establish the Nyasaland Districts Protectorate in 1891. He served as the British commissioner of the area from 1891 until 1895. In 1893 it was renamed British Central Africa Protectorate, and in 1907 it became Nyasaland Protectorate (present-day Malawi). Johnston also served as a special commissioner in Uganda from 1899 until 1901. He wrote more than 40 books on Africa.