John Mercer Johnson
Encyclopedia
John Mercer Johnson was a politician in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada
and a Father of Confederation. He represented Northumberland
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1867 to 1868 as a Liberal
member.
He was born in Liverpool
, England and brought at an early age to Chatham, New Brunswick
by his father, where he became a lawyer
in 1850. He represented Northumberland County
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1850 to 1865 and from 1866 to 1867. Johnson was Solicitor General from 1854 to 1856, postmaster general from 1857 to 1859, speaker for the house from 1859 to 1862 and Attorney General from 1862 to 1865. He was delegated to the Quebec Conference
in 1864 and that of London
in 1866. After Confederation
in 1867, Johnson was elected to the new Canadian House of Commons
of the federal Parliament.
Johnson was educated at a grammar school
in Northumberland
before he studied law
. In 1840, he was called to the bar of New Brunswick. At the Charlottetown Conference
and the two later conferences discussing the confederation, Johnson vigorously asserted the fact that the provincial governments should not hold any power above the course of the county or zone.
He died in office at Chatham, New Brunswick
at the age of 50.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and a Father of Confederation. He represented Northumberland
Miramichi (electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988. It was replaced by Miramichi riding, which has been represented in the House of Commons since 1988...
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...
from 1867 to 1868 as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
member.
He was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England and brought at an early age to Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
by his father, where he became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in 1850. He represented Northumberland County
Northumberland County, New Brunswick
Northumberland County , having the largest area of any county in the province, is located in northeastern New Brunswick, Canada.-Geography:Northumberland County is covered by thick forests, whose products stimulate the economy...
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1850 to 1865 and from 1866 to 1867. Johnson was Solicitor General from 1854 to 1856, postmaster general from 1857 to 1859, speaker for the house from 1859 to 1862 and Attorney General from 1862 to 1865. He was delegated to the Quebec Conference
Quebec Conference, 1864
The Quebec Conference was the second meeting held in 1864 to discuss Canadian Confederation.The 16 delegates from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island had agreed at the close of the Charlottetown Conference to meet again at Quebec City October 1864...
in 1864 and that of London
London Conference
The London Conference could refer to several conferences:* London Conference of 1832* London Conference of 1838–39* London Conference of 1852* London Conference of 1866* London Conference of 1881 * London Conference of 1908...
in 1866. After Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
in 1867, Johnson was elected to the new 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...
of the federal Parliament.
Johnson was educated at a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
before he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. In 1840, he was called to the bar of New Brunswick. At the Charlottetown Conference
Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island for representatives from the colonies of British North America to discuss Canadian Confederation...
and the two later conferences discussing the confederation, Johnson vigorously asserted the fact that the provincial governments should not hold any power above the course of the county or zone.
He died in office at Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
at the age of 50.