Joseph Johnson (Virginia politician)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Johnson was a United States Representative and was the 32nd Governor of Virginia
from 1852 to 1856. Born in Orange County, New York
, he moved with his mother to Belvidere, New Jersey
in 1791 and thence to Bridgeport, Virginia
(now West Virginia
) in 1801. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, served in the War of 1812
as captain of a company of Virginia riflemen, and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
in 1815, 1816, and 1818-1822.
Johnson was elected to the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Congresses (March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1827); while a Representative, he was chairman, Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings (Nineteenth Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1826 to the Twentieth Congress and was elected to the Twenty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Philip Doddridge
, serving from January 21 to March 3, 1833; he was not a candidate for renomination in 1832. He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Democrat
to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1841); he was chairman of the Committee on Accounts in the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1840 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1844.
He was elected to the Twenty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1845 - March 3, 1847); he was chairman, Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress), and declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1846. He was again a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1847 and 1848, after which he resumed agricultural pursuits. He was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850 and 1851 and was elected Governor of Virginia in 1851, serving a short term, and was reelected and entered upon the duties of the office January 1, 1852, and served four years. He died in Bridgeport, West Virginia in 1877 and was buried in the old Brick Church Cemetery.
Johnson was an uncle of Senator Waldo P. Johnson
of Missouri
.
including Johnson Avenue, Johnson Elementary School, and his former home, the Governor Joseph Johnson House
.
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
from 1852 to 1856. Born in Orange County, New York
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, he moved with his mother to Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere, New Jersey
Belvidere is a Town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 2,681. It is the county seat of Warren County....
in 1791 and thence to Bridgeport, Virginia
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,306 at the 2000 census.The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816....
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) in 1801. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, served in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
as captain of a company of Virginia riflemen, and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
in 1815, 1816, and 1818-1822.
Johnson was elected to the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Congresses (March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1827); while a Representative, he was chairman, Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings (Nineteenth Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1826 to the Twentieth Congress and was elected to the Twenty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
, serving from January 21 to March 3, 1833; he was not a candidate for renomination in 1832. He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1841); he was chairman of the Committee on Accounts in the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1840 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1844.
He was elected to the Twenty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1845 - March 3, 1847); he was chairman, Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress), and declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1846. He was again a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1847 and 1848, after which he resumed agricultural pursuits. He was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850 and 1851 and was elected Governor of Virginia in 1851, serving a short term, and was reelected and entered upon the duties of the office January 1, 1852, and served four years. He died in Bridgeport, West Virginia in 1877 and was buried in the old Brick Church Cemetery.
Johnson was an uncle of Senator Waldo P. Johnson
Waldo P. Johnson
Waldo Porter Johnson was a United States Senator from Missouri, and later a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War....
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Legacy
Several locations are named after Johnson in Bridgeport, West VirginiaBridgeport, West Virginia
Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,306 at the 2000 census.The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816....
including Johnson Avenue, Johnson Elementary School, and his former home, the Governor Joseph Johnson House
Governor Joseph Johnson House
The Governor Joseph Johnson House, also known as Oakdale, is located on a half-acre lot that is bordered on the north by Johnson Avenue , on the west by Oakdale Avenue , and on the south by Maple Street, in the town of Bridgeport, West Virginia. The house was constructed in 1818 for then...
.