William Augustus Johnson
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General William Augustus Johnson (15 October 1777, Kenilworth
– 26 October 1863, Witham
, Lincolnshire) was an English soldier and Member of Parliament.
He was the eldest son of the Rev. Robert Augustus Johnson and Anna Rebecca (youngest sister of Lord Craven
) and a descendent of Archdeacon Robert Johnson. He married Lucy Foster (1815 – 1890), 17 February 1835.
He served in the campaign of 1808-9 in the Peninsular War
, as Major in the 32nd Regiment, and was present at the battles of Roliça
, Vimiero
, and Corunna
. Johnson then served through the Walcheren expedition in 1809.
Johnson inherited the Witham on the Hill
estate in Lincolnshire from an uncle in 1814 and left active duty on half-pay
to run the estate.
He stood many times for Parliament, and served as Member of Parliament for Boston
, 1820–1826 and for Oldham
, 1837-1847.
He was a Magistrate, Deputy Lieutenant
of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
for 1830.
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London....
– 26 October 1863, Witham
Witham on the Hill
Witham on the Hill is a in the civil parish of the same name, in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:The village is between the and west tributaries of the River Glen, and despite its name, is not on the top of its 'hill', which reaches a peak one mile west towards...
, Lincolnshire) was an English soldier and Member of Parliament.
He was the eldest son of the Rev. Robert Augustus Johnson and Anna Rebecca (youngest sister of Lord Craven
William Craven, 6th Baron Craven
William Craven, 6th Baron Craven was an English nobleman.He was the son of Rev John Craven of Staunton Lacy in Shropshire and succeeded his uncle, William Craven, as Baron Craven in 1769...
) and a descendent of Archdeacon Robert Johnson. He married Lucy Foster (1815 – 1890), 17 February 1835.
He served in the campaign of 1808-9 in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, as Major in the 32nd Regiment, and was present at the battles of Roliça
Battle of Roliça
In the Battle of Roliça an Anglo-Portuguese army under Sir Arthur Wellesley defeated an outnumbered French army under General Henri Delaborde, near the village of Roliça in Portugal. The French retired in good order...
, Vimiero
Battle of Vimeiro
In the Battle of Vimeiro the British under General Arthur Wellesley defeated the French under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot near the village of Vimeiro , near Lisbon, Portugal during the Peninsular War...
, and Corunna
Battle of Corunna
The Battle of Corunna refers to a battle of the Peninsular War. On January 16, 1809, a French army under Marshal Soult attacked the British under Sir John Moore...
. Johnson then served through the Walcheren expedition in 1809.
Johnson inherited the Witham on the Hill
Witham on the Hill
Witham on the Hill is a in the civil parish of the same name, in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:The village is between the and west tributaries of the River Glen, and despite its name, is not on the top of its 'hill', which reaches a peak one mile west towards...
estate in Lincolnshire from an uncle in 1814 and left active duty on half-pay
Half-pay
In the British Army and Royal Navy of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, half-pay referred to the pay or allowance an officer received when in retirement or not in actual service....
to run the estate.
He stood many times for Parliament, and served as Member of Parliament for Boston
Boston (UK Parliament constituency)
Boston was a parliamentary borough in Lincolnshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1547 until 1885, and then one member from 1885 until 1918, when the constituency was abolished.-History:...
, 1820–1826 and for Oldham
Oldham (UK Parliament constituency)
Oldham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Oldham, England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, 1837-1847.
He was a Magistrate, Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
for 1830.