William Samuel Johnson

William Samuel Johnson was a prominent figure in American history, serving as a Delegate to the Continental Congress and playing a key role in the American Revolution. He was a close associate of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, and worked alongside them to shape the United States Constitution and the Articles of Confederation. Johnson's contributions to the American Revolution were significant, and he was a strong supporter of the Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of Paris (1783). He was also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, a group of American Revolutionary War veterans.

● Early Life and Education

William Samuel Johnson was born in Stratford, Connecticut, to Samuel Johnson, a Congregationalist minister, and Charity Floyd Nicoll Johnson. He attended Yale College, where he studied alongside Nathan Hale and Lyman Hall, and graduated in 1744. Johnson then went on to study law under Joseph Chew, a prominent New York City lawyer, and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1753. He later became a tutor at Yale College, teaching Latin and Greek to students such as Noah Webster and Joel Barlow.

● Career

Johnson began his career as a lawyer in New York City, where he became friends with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. He was a member of the New York Provincial Congress and served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1775. Johnson played a key role in the Continental Congress, working alongside Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry to draft the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He was also a strong supporter of the French and Indian War and the Treaty of Fort Stanwix.

● American Revolution

During the American Revolution, Johnson served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress and played a key role in the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of Trenton. He was a close associate of George Washington and worked alongside him to plan the Battle of Princeton and the Battle of Monmouth. Johnson was also a member of the Committee of Secret Correspondence, a group of Continental Congress members who worked to secure French support for the American Revolution. He was a strong supporter of the Saratoga Campaign and the Valley Forge encampment.

● Later Life and Legacy

After the American Revolution, Johnson returned to Stratford, Connecticut, where he served as a Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court and a Member of the Connecticut State Senate. He was a strong supporter of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and worked alongside James Madison and Alexander Hamilton to secure their ratification. Johnson was also a member of the American Philosophical Society and the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was awarded an honorary degree from Yale College in 1785. He died on November 14, 1819, and was buried in Stratford, Connecticut.

● Personal Life

Johnson married Frances Floyd Nicoll Johnson in 1750, and the couple had three children, including Samuel Johnson and Robert Charles Johnson. He was a close friend of Noah Webster and Joel Barlow, and was a strong supporter of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the New York Historical Society. Johnson was also a member of the Episcopal Church and served as a Vestryman at Christ Church in Stratford, Connecticut. He was a strong supporter of the American Colonization Society and the American Bible Society, and worked to promote education and literacy in Connecticut and throughout the United States.