Article

Sir John Johnson

Published Online January 29, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Sir John Johnson, soldier, Loyalist, public servant (b at Mohawk Valley, NY 5 Nov 1742; d at Mount Johnson, near Montréal 4 Jan 1830). He was the son of Sir William JOHNSON and heir to the Johnson family's massive Mohawk Valley estates.

Johnson, Sir John

Sir John Johnson, soldier, Loyalist, public servant (b at Mohawk Valley, NY 5 Nov 1742; d at Mount Johnson, near Montréal 4 Jan 1830). He was the son of Sir William JOHNSON and heir to the Johnson family's massive Mohawk Valley estates. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, he moved to Montréal and organized and commanded the 2 battalions of King's Royal Regiment of NY, a Loyalist Provincial corps.

In March 1782 Johnson was appointed to command the British Indian Department, a position he held until 1828. He assisted in resettling the Loyalists, especially along the upper St Lawrence. Appointments to the legislative councils of Québec in 1787 and Lower Canada in 1796 followed. During the WAR OF 1812, he commanded the Six Township Battalions of Québec Militia.