Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819

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William Samuel Johnson (October 7, 1727 – November 14, 1819) was an American Founding Father and statesman. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a militia lieutenant before being relieved following his rejection of his election to the First Continental Congress. He was notable for signing the United States Constitution, for representing Connecticut in the United States Senate, and for serving as the third president of King's College, now known as Columbia University.

Born in Stratford, Colony of Connecticut, on October 7, 1727 to Samuel Johnson, Johnson received his primary education at home. He then graduated from Yale College in 1744 and went on to receive a master's degree from his alma mater in 1747 as well as an honorary degree from Harvard the same year. Although his father urged him to enter the clergy, Johnson decided instead to pursue a legal career. Self-educated in the law, he quickly developed an important clientele and established business connections extending beyond the boundaries of his native colony. He also held a commission in the Connecticut colonial militia for over 20 years, rising to the rank of colonel, and he served in the lower house (1761 and 1765) and upper house (1766 and 1771–1775) of the Connecticut Legislature. He was a member of the colony's Supreme Court (1772–1774). Johnson lived in London from 1767 to 1771, serving as Connecticut's agent in its attempt to settle the colony's title to Indian lands.

Once independence was achieved, Johnson felt free to participate in the government of the new nation, serving in the Congress of the Confederation from 1785 to 1787. Between 1787 and 1800, he served as president of King's College, now known as Columbia University. He was elected as one of the first two United States Senators from Connecticut, serving from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1791, when he resigned. Johnson died in Stratford and was buried in the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Roger Sherman (1721-1793) collection, 1749-1904 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Johnson, Samuel, 1696-1772. [Letter] 1769 Oct. 25, Stratford, [Ct. to] My dear son / S. Johnson. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn United States. Congress. Broadside regarding the Treasury, n.d. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Wheelock, Eleazar, 1711-1779. Letter 1774 June 19, Hanover, N.H. to William Samuel Johnson. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. Houghton Library
referencedIn Fitch, John, 1743-1798. John Fitch papers, 1783-1854. Library of Congress
referencedIn Edwin Dwight Northrup papers, [ca. 1820-1960] Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Parsons, Samuel Holden, 1737-1789. Samuel Parsons and Parsons family papers, 1703-1865. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. Diary of William Samuel Johnson [microform]. Boston College. John J. Burns Library
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. DS, 1791 May 16, Stratford, Connecticut. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. William Samuel Johnson papers, 1658-1830 (inclusive), 1744-1817 (bulk), [microform]. Yale University Library
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. Papers, 1753-1802. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Columbia University. University Archives. Columbiana Manuscripts, 1572-1986 [Bulk Dates: 1850-1920]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Groce, George C. (George Cuthbert), 1899-. Carmalt family papers, 1863-1941 [bulk 1914-1941]. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Johnson, Samuel, 1696-1772. Samuel Johnson papers, 1710-1971, bulk 1710-1772. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Buel, David. Papers, 1811-1814. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Ebenezer Kneeland Sermons, 1770-1777 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. Papers, 1663-1785 [microform]. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
referencedIn United States Constitution collection, 1787-1858. Library of Congress
creatorOf Gwathmey collection, 1708-1852 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Johnson, William Samuel. Signature to printed sheriff's summons, ("in the 12th year of His Majesty's Reign") 1772 Apr. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1795-1883. Johnson family papers, 1722-1863. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Roger Sherman (1721-1793) collection, 1749-1904 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. William Samuel Johnson personal, political and legal papers, 1658-1817. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Johnson family. Johnson family papers, 1769-1886 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Chauncey family. Chauncey family papers, 1675-1928 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Law, Ernest, b. 1858. Ernest Law collection of Jonathan and Richard Law correspondence, ca. 1916. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Columbiana Manuscripts, 1572-1986, [Bulk Dates: 1850-1920]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Johnson family. Johnson family papers, 1631-1987 (inclusive), 1631-1918 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
creatorOf Livingston, Peter Van Brugh, 1710-1792. [Letter] 1772 Jun. 24, Stratford [to] Sam.l Wm Johnson / P. V. B. Livingston. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. William Samuel Johnson papers, 1745-1936 (bulk 1745-1790). Library of Congress
referencedIn Chauncey, Charles, 1777-1849. Papers, 1800-1849. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf King's College (New York, N.Y.). [Letter] 1767 Feb. 23, New York [to] Wm. Samuel Johnson / Governors of the College. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wendell family papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. [Letters] / Wm. Sam. Johnson. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Houghton Library printed book provenance file, E-K. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wyllys family. Wyllys family papers, 1633-1829. Connecticut Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Alden, Roger, 1754-1836 person
associatedWith Anstey, John, d.1819. person
associatedWith Berkeley, George, 1733-1795. person
correspondedWith Browne, Montfort person
associatedWith Buel, David. person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith Chauncey, Charles, 1777-1849. person
associatedWith Chauncey family. family
associatedWith Chew, Joseph. person
associatedWith Colden, Cadwallader, 1688-1776. person
leaderOf Columbia University corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia University. corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia University. University Archives. corporateBody
memberOf Connecticut. General Assembly. corporateBody
memberOf Connecticut. Supreme Court. corporateBody
associatedWith Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. person
associatedWith Deane, Silas, 1737-1789. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Duane, James, 1733-1797. person
associatedWith Dyer, Eliphalet, 1721-1807. person
associatedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
associatedWith Elderkin, Jedediah, 1717-1793. person
associatedWith Ellery, William, 1727-1820. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
correspondedWith Fitch, John, 1743-1798 person
associatedWith Gale, Benjamin, 1715-1790. person
associatedWith George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820. person
associatedWith Great Britain corporateBody
associatedWith Griswold, Matthew, 1714-1799. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. corporateBody
correspondedWith Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796 person
associatedWith Ingersoll, Jared, 1722-1781. person
associatedWith Jackson, William, 1759-1828. person
associatedWith Johnson family. family
parentOf Johnson, Robert Charles, 1766-1806. person
childOf Johnson, Samuel, 1696-1772. person
parentOf Johnson, Samuel William, 1761-1846. person
associatedWith Johnson, William, 1731-1756. person
grandparentOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1795-1883. person
associatedWith King's College (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Kneeland, Ebenezer, d.1777. person
associatedWith Latrobe, Benjamin Henry, 1764-1820. person
associatedWith Law, Ernest, b. 1858. person
correspondedWith Leffingwell, Christopher, 1734-1810 person
associatedWith Livingston, Peter Van Brugh, 1710-1792. person
associatedWith Livius, George. person
associatedWith Longworth, David, 1765?-1821. person
associatedWith Martin, John Milton. person
associatedWith Mason, John, 1600-1672. person
associatedWith Mitchell, Stephen Mix, 1743-1835. person
associatedWith Northrup, Edwin Dwight. person
associatedWith Parsons, Samuel Holden, 1737-1789. person
associatedWith Pitkin, William, 1694-1769. person
associatedWith Porteus, Beilby, 1731-1809. person
associatedWith Saltonstall, Gurdon, 1708-1785. person
associatedWith Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. person
associatedWith Smith, William, 1728-1793. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stamp Act Congress (1765 : New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Constitutional Convention (1787) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress. corporateBody
parent-in-law of Verplanck, Daniel Crommelin, 1762-1834. person
grandparentOf Verplanck, Gulian C. (Gulian Crommelin), 1786-1870. person
associatedWith Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804. person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Webster, Pelatiah, 1725-1795. person
correspondedWith Wendell family. family
associatedWith Wheelock, Eleazar, 1711-1779. person
associatedWith Williams, William, 1731-1811. person
associatedWith Wyllys family. family
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Yale University. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New Haven CT US
Stratford CT US
Stratford CT US
Subject
Constitutions
Court calendar
Land titles
Lawyers
Legislators
Mohegan Indians
Mohegan Indians
Statesmen
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Lawyers
Legislators
University presidents
Senators, U.S. Congress
State Representative
State Senator
Statesmen
State Supreme Court Judge
Activity

Person

Birth 1727-10-07

Death 1819-11-14

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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