15 Facts About Reginald Johnston

Reginald Johnston studied at the University of Edinburgh and later was awarded a scholarship to read modern history at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Reginald Johnston wrote three books during his time in the service: From Peking to Mandalay, Lion and Dragon in Northern China, and Buddhist China.

Reginald Johnston carried high imperial titles and lived in both the Forbidden City and the New Summer Palace.

Reginald Johnston met the Ming dynasty imperial descendant, Zhu Yuxun, the Marquis of Extended Grace, and arranged for him to meet Puyi in the Forbidden City.

Reginald Johnston obtained a bicycle and telephone for Pu Yi, and against the wishes of the retainers, much-needed spectacles.

Reginald Johnston ran the territory until it was returned to the Republic of China on 1 October 1930.

Reginald Johnston tried to get the British diplomatic legation in Peking to host Puyi, and although the British authorities were not very interested in welcoming the former emperor, the British representative eventually gave Reginald Johnston his consent.

However, he later discovered that Puyi - in view of the situation and against Reginald Johnston's advice, had taken refuge in the Japanese legation after being advised by Zheng Xiaoxu.

Reginald Johnston was appointed Professor of Chinese in the University of London in 1931, a post based at the School of Oriental and African Studies, to which he bequeathed his library in 1935.

Reginald Johnston retained his ties with Puyi, hosting one of his sisters and her husband at his house in Mortlake Road, Kew, in London during the 1930s, and even visited him in Manchukuo in July 1935.

Johnston retired in 1937, having acquired the small island of Eilean Righ in Loch Craignish, Scotland, Pu Yi granted Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston permission to fly the Imperial flag of Manchukuo on the Island, making it the only location outside of China to do so, and grew a Chinese style garden.

Reginald Johnston's ashes were scattered on his island and the surrounding loch.

Reginald Johnston never married but was at one stage engaged to the historian Eileen Power, and was close to author Stella Benson.

Reginald Johnston was named as a respondent in the divorce of Elizabeth Sparshott, and was engaged to her at the time leading up to his death.

Reginald Johnston was portrayed by Peter O'Toole in the film.