John Telemachus Johnson

John Telemachus Johnson (October 5, 1788 – December 17, 1856) was a minister in the Christian Church, an attorney, and a politician, elected as U.S. Representative from Kentucky. His older brothers, also politicians, included James Johnson and Richard M. Johnson, who served as Vice President under Martin Van Buren; he was the uncle of Robert Ward Johnson, also a politician.

John T. Johnson
A man with receding black hair, a high-collared white shirt, and a black jacket and bowtie
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825
Preceded byAnthony New
Succeeded byJames Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded byWilliam Brown
Succeeded byHenry Clay
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Personal details
Born(1788-10-05)October 5, 1788
Scott County, Kentucky
DiedDecember 17, 1856(1856-12-17) (aged 68)
Lexington, Missouri
Resting placeLexington Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
Democrat
RelativesRichard Mentor Johnson (brother)
James Johnson (brother)
Robert Ward Johnson (nephew)
Alma materTransylvania University
ProfessionLawyer, Minister
SignatureJ. T. Johnson
Military service
Battles/warsWar of 1812

Early life and education

Born at Great Crossings, in present-day Scott County, Kentucky, Johnson pursued preparatory studies after being home schooled. He attended Transylvania University, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Like his older brother Richard, he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1809 and commenced practice in Georgetown, Kentucky. He owned slaves.[1] Johnson served in the Kentucky Militia during the War of 1812 as an aide-de-camp to General William H. Harrison.

Political career

Johnson was elected as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, serving for five terms.

He was elected in 1820 as a Democratic-Republican to the Seventeenth Congress and reelected as a Jackson Democrat to the Eighteenth Congress (March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1825). While in Congress, Johnson served as chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads (Eighteenth Congress). He declined to run in 1824.

He was appointed judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals April 20, 1826, and served until December 30, 1826.

Johnson was ordained as a minister of the Christian Church, where he served for a number of years. He became active in publishing Christian journalism. He became editor of the Christian Messenger in 1832, the Gospel Advocate in 1835, and the Christian in 1837.

In 1836, Johnson was instrumental in establishing Bacon College at Georgetown, Kentucky.

He died in Lexington, Missouri, December 17, 1856. He was interred at Lexington Cemetery.

See also

References
  • United States Congress. "John Telemachus Johnson (id: J000154)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 269. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  1. "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, 2022-01-13, retrieved 2022-07-06

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.