Born in London, Johnston-Lavis first studied medicine and then geology in England and France. He devoted his scientific activities to the study of Italian volcanoes, especially Mount Vesuvius. He was a member of various geological societies and associations. From 1893 he worked for 15 years as a professor of volcanology in Naples, then moved to southern France. He died in a car accident in Bourges (F). He left his rich geological collection of rock samples, maps and literature to University College, London.

Terrain model made by Johnston-Lavis (details on Swiss Relief Catalogue)

• Vesuvius, 1880–1888

[1] This article bases on Mair, Toni. Grieder, Susanne. Das Landschaftsrelief – Symbiose von Wissenschaft und Kunsthandwerk. Mit Schweizer Reliefkatalog. Verlag hier+jetzt. Baden, Schweiz. 2006. S.161.

See also: Dr. H. J. Johnston-Lavis. In: Nature. Vol. 94, No. 119. October 1914.