Sir Frederic Johnstone

Research Status: Comprehensive Last Updated: 2025-07-09 Diary Coverage: Up to April 8, 1875

Identity

Sir Frederick Johnstone, 8th Baronet (1841-1913), a British baronet and racing man of the Prince of Wales's set, co-respondent with Viscount Cole in the Mordaunt divorce case (Mordaunt v. Mordaunt, Cole and Johnstone, 1870; divorce granted 1875) (Wikipedia, «Sir Frederick Johnstone, 8th Baronet»; «Harriet Mordaunt»). Marie never met him: the Nice man she took for him was «M. Olliver» (below). He was known for his involvement in the racing world and his connections to the Prince of Wales's circle.

Who Marie actually saw: «M. Olliver», «le diable»

The man Marie fell for in January 1875 was not Johnstone at all, by her own later correction. On 27 January 1875 she writes «je suis amoureuse ! De qui ? … c'est de sir Frederic Johnstone. On ne sait pas qui est-ce ! C'est l'homme que j'ai remarqué», and across the page she later added: «[En travers: Ça n'était point sir Frederick Johnstone mais M. Olliver.]» (029/1875-01-27; see OLLIVER). Two days later she gives the same tall man of the Promenade his nickname: «j'aperçus le diable. Je le nomme le diable parce que la première fois que je le vis il m'a paru y ressembler» (029.0117, 29 Jan 1875); the name runs to the spring («Johnstone. Ah ! ce maudit diabolus, faut-il qu'il m'ait plu !», 031/1875-04-17; «j'ai aussi pensé au diable», 031/1875-04-18; 030/1875-03-16). Older notes that call «le diable» a code name for Hamilton are wrong (RSR CORRECTIONs at 030/1875-03-16 and 031/1875-04-18). The Mon Journal indexes split the same man: t.4 «Olliver (M.), [Sir Frederic Johnstone], 290, 292-293, 295, 297, 302» (January–February 1875), but t.5 «Johnstone (Sir Frédéric)» (April–May 1875) and t.6 «Johnstone (Sir Frédéric) [Le diable]». In April 1875, reading about the Mordaunt case, Marie is «pas du tout étonnée de voir le diable y jouer un rôle» (031.0116): she still believed her man was the real Johnstone. A later margin note lists the two apart: «Hamilton, Johnstone, Olliver, prince de Galles. Je m'exaltais pour tout cela à la fois» (031/1875-04-08). The 1875 tags stay on this file for now (tag rulings: «Sir Frederic Johnstone (1875) → SIR_FREDERIC_JOHNSTONE»); retagging the Promenade man to OLLIVER is a decision for the tag lead.

Marie's Encounter

Marie first spotted Johnstone on January 10, 1875, while riding in a landau with Dina near the Jardin Public in Nice. She describes him as a "galant comme Carlo" - comparing him to her idealized romantic type. This brief encounter made a lasting impression on her.

Physical Description

Marie observed him walking on the boulevard toward the Promenade des Anglais, hands in his pockets, yawning as their carriage passed. She was struck by his appearance and boldly leaned out of the carriage to get a better look.

Marie's Obsession

By April 1875, Johnstone had become part of Marie's romantic fantasies alongside the Duke of Hamilton, Prince of Wales, and others. She writes passionate invocations to him: "Johnstone beau, Johnstone noble, Johnstone fier, Johnstone charmant, Johnstone grand, viens me visiter en rêve, tu me plais, tu es beau!"

Historical Context

Johnstone moved in the same social circles as the Prince of Wales and other British aristocrats who wintered in Nice. He represented the type of sophisticated, aristocratic gentleman that Marie idealized.

Significance in Marie's Development

Johnstone becomes another figure in Marie's gallery of unattainable aristocratic men, reflecting her social aspirations and romantic imagination at age 16-17.