Person    | Male  Born 28/9/1839  Died 24/11/1900

John Lawson Johnston

Categories: Food & Drink, Industry

Countries: Canada, France, Scotland

Nutrition promoter and food manufacturer. Born at 29 Main Street, Roslin, Midlothian. He took over his uncle's butcher shop and decided to use the large quantity of beef trimmings produced to make his own 'glace de viande' (meat glaze). This sold so well that he opened a second shop and a factory in the Holyrood area. He emigrated to Canada, and in1874 the French army gave him a contract to supply their army with preserved beef products. During this time he developed 'Johnston's Fluid Beef', which was to become 'Bovril'. He returned to Britain in 1880 where he developed the brand. Died on his yacht 'White Ladye' in Cannes harbour.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
John Lawson Johnston

Commemorated ati

John Lawson Johnston

John Lawson Johnston, 1839 - 190, inventor of Bovril, owned and lived here at...

Read More

Other Subjects

2i's coffee bar

2i's coffee bar

Birthplace of British rock 'n roll and the popular music industry. Mickie Most started as a singing waiter here. Owen Adams provides a huge amount of information.

Place, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Music / songs

1 memorial
Devil Tavern

Devil Tavern

2, Fleet Street. Demolished 1787. Full title was the Devil and St Dunstan, the sign being the Devil's nose being tweaked by pincers wielded by the saint. It appears in a Hogarth illustration. T...

Building, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Ralph Thrale

Ralph Thrale

Son of Anne Thrale, sister of Edmund Halsey who took him into his brewery business, the Anchor Brewery. Thrale.com tells this interesting story: "When Ralph took a wife in the early 1720's, he cho...

Person, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Eagle Tavern

Eagle Tavern

Spitlefields Life has an excellent write-up of the 19th century entertainment complex here.

Building, Commerce, Food & Drink

2 memorials
Rules Restaurant

Rules Restaurant

London's oldest restaurant. Opened by Thomas Rule primarily as an oyster bar. It specialises in game and owns the Lartington Estate in the High Pennines. The restaurant stayed in the Rule family un...

Place, Food & Drink

1 memorial