James Johnson (Georgia politician)

James Johnson
43rdGovernor of Georgia
In office June 17, 1865 – December 14, 1865
Preceded by	Joseph E. Brown
Succeeded by	Charles J. Jenkins
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's2nddistrict
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853
Preceded by	Marshall J. Wellborn
Succeeded by	Alfred H. Colquitt
Personal details
Born	February 12, 1811 Robeson County, North Carolina
Died	November 20, 1891 (aged 80) Chattahoochee County, Georgia
Resting place	Linwood Cemetery,Columbus, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Georgia
Profession	Law
Signature

James Johnson(February 12, 1811 – November 20, 1891) was a U.S. Representative fromGeorgiaand served as the43rd Governor of Georgiabetween June and October 1865.

Early life

Johnson was born in 1811 inRobeson County, North Carolinato Peter and Nancy McNeill Johnson, whose parents had come from Scotland. The Johnsons moved from North Carolina toHenry County, Georgia,the newly created county by theGeorgia General Assembly'sLand Lottery Act of 1821from previously Indian-held territory between theOcmulgeeandFlintrivers. He graduated fromFranklin College(the predecessor of theUniversity of Georgia) in 1832 with his classmatesAlexander H. Stephens,Crawford W. Long,andWilliam H. Crawford.He married Ann Harris ofJones Countyon June 12, 1834. They moved toColumbus, Georgiawhere he started his law practice after passing the bar in 1835. In 1845, Johnson and a fellow member of the Columbus bar,Henry L. Benning(namesake ofFt. Benning) memorialized GeneralAndrew Jackson.

Political life

In 1851, Johnson was elected to theUnited States House of Representativesas aUnionist.Some historians labeled him aWhig,but in the later 1850s he was a member of the American, orKnow-Nothing,party. He was defeated in his re-election bid by Alfred H. Colquitt in 1853.Johnson opposedsecession,and historians agree that he kept a low profile during theCivil War.

Johnson was appointed as provisional Governor of Georgia on June 17, 1865, byU.S. PresidentAndrew Johnson(unrelated),and tasked primarily with reorganizing the state government, which had collapsed with theConfederacy.He served until a constitutional convention was held inMilledgevillein October 1865; at that convention, the Secession Ordinance was repealed, a new constitution was adopted, and the State's war debt was repudiated. He unsuccessfully ran for theU.S. Senate,but on January 30, 1866, the legislature preferred Alexander H. Stephens andHerschel V. Johnson.

Postbellum life

For his service, President Johnson gave James Johnson the position as collector of customs for thePort of Savannah.He served in this capacity Oct. 1, 1866 to May 31, 1869. Johnson moved back to Columbus, where he served as judge of the Superior Court from July 1, 1869, to Oct. 1, 1875, when he resigned.

Death and legacy

He died in 1891 inChattahoochee County, Georgia.He is buried inLinwood Cemetery (Columbus, Georgia).

External links

• This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress

• United States Congress."James Johnson (id: J000144)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• James JohnsonatFind a Grave
• James Johnson, National Governors Association
• Davis, Matthew."James Johnson (1811-1891)".New Georgia Encyclopedia.RetrievedJune 3,2016.
• Fant, H. B."Johnson, James".Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.University of North Carolina Press.RetrievedJune 3,2016.