Francis Godschall Johnson
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Godschall Johnson (January 1, 1817 – May 27, 1894) was a Canadian office holder. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
on April 9, 1872, but had his commission revoked before he was officially sworn in. In 1889, he was appointed the 4th Chief Justice of the Province of Quebec.
, 1817, at Oakley House in Bedfordshire
. He was the son of Captain Godschall Johnson (1780-1859), formerly of the 10th Royal Hussars, and his wife Lucy (d.1823), daughter of Sir Cecil Bishopp
(1753-1828) 8th Bt., of Parham Park
, West Sussex
; 12th Baron Zouche
. Francis Johnson was educated at Harrow
and afterwards at Saint-Omer
and Bruges
. In his early life he had the reputation of an excellent athlete, and in later life he was remembered as a renowned wit.
Johnson moved to Montreal
in the 1830s, where he studied law. From 1834 to 1836, he articled under Henry Pearce Driscoll
Q.C., of Montreal. He was called to the bar in 1839, and became known as a leading figure in criminal law. His career was undoubtedly helped by his bilingualism. On February 11, 1848, he was appointed a Q.C.
Politically, Johnson was a Conservative
. He was elected a Vice-President of the British American League in 1849, and opposed the Rebellion Losses Bill
later in the same year. He also signed the Annexation Manifesto, for which he was stripped of his Q.C. (which was not restored until 1853).
to work as a legal administrator in Assiniboia
. He was soon recognized as one of the most competent figures in the Company, and became Assistant Governor of Assiniboia on July 19, 1855. On November 26, he succeeded William Bletterman Caldwell as Governor, also retaining his legal portfolio. He appears to have been popular and respected during his time in the territory.
Johnson returned to Montreal in 1858, and resumed his legal practice. He was appointed a judge in 1865.
In 1870, he was commissioned by George-Étienne Cartier
to become the first legal recorder in the new province of Manitoba. He was sworn in on October 19, and sought to develop a functioning legal system in the province.
appointed Francis as a Legislative Councillor in Rupert's Land
and the Northwest Territories
. This appointment made him the first Councillor
and member of the Executive Council in the territory. The appointment to the Temporary North-West Council
was quickly revoked by the federal government, however, which ruled that Archibald had overstepped his authority in granting it.
On April 9, 1872, Johnson reluctantly agreed to replace Archibald as Lieutenant Governor of the province. This appointment was also revoked, following opposition in the Canadian House of Commons
to a government appointee holding two paid positions. Johnson was never sworn into office, despite his continued popularity in the region.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
on April 9, 1872, but had his commission revoked before he was officially sworn in. In 1889, he was appointed the 4th Chief Justice of the Province of Quebec.
Early life
Born New Year's DayNew Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 1817, at Oakley House in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. He was the son of Captain Godschall Johnson (1780-1859), formerly of the 10th Royal Hussars, and his wife Lucy (d.1823), daughter of Sir Cecil Bishopp
Bishopp Baronets
The Bishopp Baronetcy, of Parham in the County of Sussex, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1620 for Thomas Bishopp, who had previously represented Gatton in Parliament. In 1815 the abeyance of the ancient Barony of Zouche was terminated in favour of the eighth Baronet, a...
(1753-1828) 8th Bt., of Parham Park
Parham Park
Parham Park is an Elizabethan house in Cootham, between Storrington and Pulborough, West Sussex, South East England, originally owned by the Monastery of Westminster and granted to Robert Palmer by King Henry VIII in 1540....
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
; 12th Baron Zouche
Baron Zouche
Baron Zouche is a title that has thrice been created in the Peerage of England.-Genealogy:The de la Zouche family descended from Alan de la Zouche, sometimes called Alan de Porhoët and Alan la Coche , a Breton who settled in England during the reign of Henry II. He was the son of Vicomte Geoffrey I...
. Francis Johnson was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and afterwards at Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
and Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
. In his early life he had the reputation of an excellent athlete, and in later life he was remembered as a renowned wit.
Johnson moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in the 1830s, where he studied law. From 1834 to 1836, he articled under Henry Pearce Driscoll
Henry Pearce Driscoll
Lt.-Col. Henry Pearce Driscoll Q.C., J.P., was an Irish officer court-martialled and discharged from the British Army at Montreal. Remaining there he edited two newspapers and became well-known as a lawyer, poet and wit.-Early Life:...
Q.C., of Montreal. He was called to the bar in 1839, and became known as a leading figure in criminal law. His career was undoubtedly helped by his bilingualism. On February 11, 1848, he was appointed a Q.C.
Politically, Johnson was a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
. He was elected a Vice-President of the British American League in 1849, and opposed the Rebellion Losses Bill
Rebellion Losses Bill
The Rebellion Losses Bill was a controversial law enacted by the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1849...
later in the same year. He also signed the Annexation Manifesto, for which he was stripped of his Q.C. (which was not restored until 1853).
Legal career
In 1854, Johnson was commissioned by the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
to work as a legal administrator in Assiniboia
Assiniboia
Assiniboia refers to a number of different locations and administrative jurisdictions in Canada. The name is taken from the Assiniboine First Nation.- District of Assiniboia:...
. He was soon recognized as one of the most competent figures in the Company, and became Assistant Governor of Assiniboia on July 19, 1855. On November 26, he succeeded William Bletterman Caldwell as Governor, also retaining his legal portfolio. He appears to have been popular and respected during his time in the territory.
Johnson returned to Montreal in 1858, and resumed his legal practice. He was appointed a judge in 1865.
In 1870, he was commissioned by George-Étienne Cartier
George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III....
to become the first legal recorder in the new province of Manitoba. He was sworn in on October 19, and sought to develop a functioning legal system in the province.
Political career
On October 21, 1870 Lieutenant Governor Adams George ArchibaldAdams George Archibald
Sir Adams George Archibald, KCMG, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as 1st Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1872.Archibald was born in Truro to a prominent family in Nova...
appointed Francis as a Legislative Councillor in Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
and the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. This appointment made him the first Councillor
Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories
The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories or Legislative Council of the Northwest Territories, Canada, is located in Yellowknife. The Assembly is a unicameral elected body that creates and amends law in the Northwest Territories...
and member of the Executive Council in the territory. The appointment to the Temporary North-West Council
Temporary North-West Council
The Temporary North-West Council more formally known as the Council of the Northwest Territories and by its short name as the North-West Council lasted from the creation of Northwest Territories, Canada, in 1870 until it was dissolved in 1876...
was quickly revoked by the federal government, however, which ruled that Archibald had overstepped his authority in granting it.
On April 9, 1872, Johnson reluctantly agreed to replace Archibald as Lieutenant Governor of the province. This appointment was also revoked, following opposition in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
to a government appointee holding two paid positions. Johnson was never sworn into office, despite his continued popularity in the region.