Canadian Military and Political Leader. The son of William Johnson, he attended the College of Philadelphia from 1757 to 1760, and as a young man attended most of his father's Indian treaty negotiations. He toured Britain from 1765 to 1767, was knighted by George III, and became a Loyalist. After William Johnson's 1774 death, John Johnson inherited his Mohawk valley estate and Baronet's title, and accepted a commission as Major General and commander of the district militia. During the Revolution he fled to Canada, where he recruited two Loyalist battalions, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel, and took part in battles and raids in upstate New York. In 1782 he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Canada's Indian Superintendent. After the war, he led resettlement of several thousand Loyalists in what is now Ontario, and from 1786 to 1791 he was a member of Quebec's legislative council. After spending several years in London, he returned to Canada, was appointed to Ontario's legislative council, and resumed his post as Indian Superintendent. He worked to rebuild his fortunes, including purchasing Montreal's palatial Château de Longueuil, country residences in Lachine and the Montreal suburbs, and large homes in Williamstown, Kingston and Toronto. In 1795 he purchased the 84,000 acre Monnoir seigneury, and later the 54,000 acre Argenteuil seigneury. He remained prominent in Indian affairs and Canadian politics, staying active until his death. His Williamstown home is now the Sir John Johnson House National Historic Site. Built between 1784 and 1792, the house is significant for its architectural design and for being one of Ontario's oldest surviving
buildings.
buildings.
Canadian Military and Political Leader. The son of William Johnson, he attended the College of Philadelphia from 1757 to 1760, and as a young man attended most of his father's Indian treaty negotiations. He toured Britain from 1765 to 1767, was knighted by George III, and became a Loyalist. After William Johnson's 1774 death, John Johnson inherited his Mohawk valley estate and Baronet's title, and accepted a commission as Major General and commander of the district militia. During the Revolution he fled to Canada, where he recruited two Loyalist battalions, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel, and took part in battles and raids in upstate New York. In 1782 he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Canada's Indian Superintendent. After the war, he led resettlement of several thousand Loyalists in what is now Ontario, and from 1786 to 1791 he was a member of Quebec's legislative council. After spending several years in London, he returned to Canada, was appointed to Ontario's legislative council, and resumed his post as Indian Superintendent. He worked to rebuild his fortunes, including purchasing Montreal's palatial Château de Longueuil, country residences in Lachine and the Montreal suburbs, and large homes in Williamstown, Kingston and Toronto. In 1795 he purchased the 84,000 acre Monnoir seigneury, and later the 54,000 acre Argenteuil seigneury. He remained prominent in Indian affairs and Canadian politics, staying active until his death. His Williamstown home is now the Sir John Johnson House National Historic Site. Built between 1784 and 1792, the house is significant for its architectural design and for being one of Ontario's oldest surviving
buildings.
buildings.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Advertisement
See more Johnson memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
