Biography of Alexander Henry Johnston Lavis

Alexander Henry Johnston-Lavis matriculated at the University of Glasgow in 1910 to study Mining Science, taking classes in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Systematic Chemistry. Born in Naples, Italy, Alexander was the son of vulcanologist and physician, Henry James Johnston-Lavis.

The Johnston-Lavis family had connections to the University long before Alexander became a student. In 1895, Henry Johnston-Lavis and Glasgow University’s chair of Geology at the time, John Walter Gregory, were said to have found a particular Eozoon structure in Monte Summa, Vesuvius. Samples of these structures were later spotted in the University’s very own Hunterian collection, as Gregory was at one point Honorary Keeper of the Geological Collections.

Johnston-Lavis himself never graduated but entered the Officer Training Corps as part of the Corps of Royal Engineers and is mentioned in the University's World War One Roll of Honour. In January 1915 he became a temporary Secondary Lieutenant, and during the Second World War, in January 1940, he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps.

Sources

University of Glasgow Story

• Profile: John Walter Gregory
• University Story WWI Roll of Honour

Other Online Resources

• The Life and Work of Professor J. W. Gregory FRS (1864-1932): Geologist, Writer, Explorer
• The London Gazette 8 January, 1915
• The London Gazette 9 January, 1940

Archival Materials

• DC183/11/46 General Council Register 1922
• R8/5/31/4 Matriculation Slip 1910-11 H-L
• R9/1/17 Class Catalogue 1910-11

Summary

Alexander Henry Johnston Lavis
Born 1891.
GU Degree: Science and Engineering, 1910-11;
University Link: Student
English snippet: Engineering student at the University of Glasgow from 1910-11
Record last updated: 6th Jan 2014

Country Associations

Italy, Campania
Place of Birth

University Connections

University Roles

• Student