John Mercer Johnson

Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Good article

{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | bodyclass = vcard | bodystyle = {{#if:|width: {{{mainwidth}}}}} | child = {{{embed}}}

| abovestyle = font-size: 100%;

| above = {{#if:The Honourable|

The Honourable

}}

{{#if:|{{{name}}}|Template:PAGENAMEBASE}}

{{#if:|

}}

| subheaderstyle = font-size:125%; font-weight:bold;

| subheader = {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes||{{#if:|{{#if:|

}}{{{native_name}}}{{#if:|

}}}}}}

| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=John Mercer Johnson.jpeg|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image2 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image3 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | captionstyle = line-height:normal;padding-top:0.2em; | caption{{#if:|3|{{#if:|2}}}} =

| headerstyle = color: #202122; {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes|background:#eee|background:lavender}}

| data2 = | header3 = {{#if:Template:Birth date Liverpool, EnglandTemplate:Death date and age Chatham, New Brunswick LiberalLawyer|Personal details}} | label4 = Pronunciation | data4 =

| label5 = Born | data5 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br

|1 = {{#if:|

{{{birthname}}}

}}

|2 = Template:Birth date
|3 = Liverpool, England
}}

| label6 = Died | data6 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br|Template:Death date and age|Chatham, New Brunswick}}

| label7 = {{#ifexpr: Template:Strfind short

   | Manner |{{#if:|Manner|Cause}} }} of death

| data7 = {{#if:||}}

| label8 = Resting place | class8 = label | data8 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br||}}

| label9 = Citizenship | data9 =

| label10 = Nationality | data10 = {{#switch:{{#invoke:delink|delink|}} | {{#ifeq:Template:Country2nationality|{{#invoke:delink|delink|}}|{{#invoke:delink|delink|}}}} = | {{#ifeq:Template:Find country|England|British}} = | #default = }}

| label11 = Political party | data11 = {{#switch:Liberal | = | Democrat | Democratic | Democrat = Democratic | Republican | United States Republican Party | Republican | Republican Party = Republican | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Labour Party | Labour = Labour | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Liberal Party | Liberal = Liberal | KMT | Kuomintang | KMT | KMT | Kuomintang | Kuomintang (KMT) | Kuomintang (KMT) = Kuomintang | DPP | DPP | Democratic Progressive Party = Democratic Progressive Party | #default = Liberal }}

| label12 = Other political
affiliations | data12 =

| label13 = Height | data13 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox person/height}}

| label14 = Spouse{{#if:|s|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}}}} | data14 =

| label15 = Domestic partner{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data15 =

| label16 = Relations | data16 =

| label17 = Children | data17 =

| label18 = Parent{{#if:|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}}|{{#ifexpr:Template:Count > 1|s}}}} | data18 = {{#if:|{{{parents}}}|{{#invoke:list|unbulleted|{{#if:|{{{father}}} (father)}}|{{#if:|{{{mother}}} (mother)}}}}}}

| label19 = Relatives | data19 =

| label20 = Residence{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | class20 = {{#if:Template:Death date and age Chatham, New Brunswick||label}} | data20 =

| label21 = Education | data21 =

| label22 = Alma mater | data22 =

| label23 = Occupation | data23 = Lawyer

| label24 = Profession | data24 =

| label25 = Known for | data25 =

| label26 = Salary | data26 =

| label27 = Cabinet | data27 =

| label28 = Committees | data28 =

| label29 = Portfolio | data29 =

| label30 = {{#if:|Civilian awards|Awards}} | data30 =

| label31 = {{{blank1}}} | data31 =

| label32 = {{{blank2}}} | data32 =

| label33 = {{{blank3}}} | data33 =

| label34 = {{{blank4}}} | data34 =

| label35 = {{{blank5}}} | data35 =

| label36 = Signature | data36 = {{#if:|[[File:|{{#if:|{{{signature_size}}}|128x80px}}|class=skin-invert|alt=|John Mercer Johnson's signature]]}}

| label37 = Website | data37 =

| label38 = Nickname{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data38 =

| header39 = {{#if:|Military service}}

| label40 = Allegiance | data40 =

| label41 = {{#if:||Branch/service}} | data41 =

| label42 = {{#if:||Years of service}} | data42 =

| label43 = {{#if:||Rank}} | data43 =

| label44 = {{#if:||Unit}} | data44 =

| label45 = Commands | data45 =

| label46 = {{#if:||Battles/wars}} | data46 =

| label47 = {{#if:|Military awards|Awards}} | data47 =

| label48 = {{{military_blank1}}} | data48 =

| label49 = {{{military_blank2}}} | data49 =

| label50 = {{{military_blank3}}} | data50 =

| label51 = {{{military_blank4}}} | data51 =

| label52 = {{{military_blank5}}} | data52 =

| below =

{{#if:| As of {{{date}}}{{#if:|, {{{year}}}}}}}

{{#if:|Source: [{{{source}}}]}}

}}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#if:||{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}}}} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox officeholder with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| regexp1 = 1blankname[%d]* | regexp2 = 1namedata[%d]* | regexp3 = 2blankname[%d]* | regexp4 = 2namedata[%d]* | regexp5 = 3blankname[%d]* | regexp6 = 3namedata[%d]* | regexp7 = 4blankname[%d]* | regexp8 = 4namedata[%d]* | regexp9 = 5blankname[%d]* | regexp10 = 5namedata[%d]* | allegiance | alma_mater | regexp11 = alongside[%d]* | alt | regexp12 = ambassador_from[%d]* | regexp13 = appointed[%d]* | regexp14 = appointer[%d]* | regexp15 = assembly[%d]* | awards | battles | battles_label | birth_date | birth_name | birth_place | birthname | regexp16 = blank[%d]* | bodyclass | branch | branch_label | cabinet | candidate | caption | categories | regexp17 = chancellor[%d]* | children | citizenship | regexp18 = co%-leader[%d]* | commands | committees | regexp19 = constituency[%d]* | regexp20 = constituency_AM[%d]* | regexp21 = constituency_MP[%d]* | regexp22 = convocation[%d]* | regexp23 = country[%d]* | regexp24 = data[%d]* | date | death_cause | death_date | death_manner | death_place | demo | regexp25 = deputy[%d]* | regexp26 = district[%d]* | education | election_date | embed | father | regexp28 = firstminister[%d]* | footnotes | regexp29 = governor[%d]* | regexp30 = governor_general[%d]* | regexp31 = governor%-general[%d]* | height | honorific_prefix | honorific-prefix | honorific_suffix | honorific-suffix | image | image name | image_name_alt | image_size | imagesize | image_upright | incumbent | regexp32 = jr/sr[%d]* | regexp33 = jr/sr and state[%d]* | known_for | regexp34 = leader[%d]* | regexp35 = legislature[%d]* | regexp36 = lieutenant[%d]* | regexp37 = lieutenant_governor[%d]* | mainwidth | regexp38 = majority[%d]* | regexp39 = majority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp40 = majority_leader[%d]* | regexp41 = majorityleader[%d]* | mawards | regexp42 = military_blank[%d]* | regexp43 = military_data[%d]* | regexp44 = minister[%d]* | regexp45 = minister_from[%d]* | regexp46 = minority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp47 = minority_leader[%d]* | regexp48 = minorityleader[%d]* | regexp49 = module[%d]* | regexp50 = monarch[%d]* | mother | name | nationality | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nocat | regexp51 = nominator[%d]* | nominee | occupation | regexp52 = office[%d]* | opponent | regexp53 = order[%d]* | otherparty | parents | regexp54 = parliament[%d]* | regexp55 = parliamentarygroup[%d]* | partner | party | party_election | portfolio | regexp56 = preceded[%d]* | regexp57 = preceding[%d]* | regexp58 = predecessor[%d]* | regexp59 = premier[%d]* | regexp60 = president[%d]* | regexp61 = primeminister[%d]* | regexp62 = prior_term[%d]* | profession | pronunciation | rank | rank_label | relations | relatives | residence | resting_place | resting_place_coordinates | restingplace | restingplacecoordinates | regexp63 = riding[%d]* | runningmate | salary | serviceyears | serviceyears_label | signature | signature_alt | signature_size | smallimage | smallimage_alt | source | speaker | speaker_office | spouse | spouses | regexp64 = state[%d]* | regexp65 = state_assembly[%d]* | regexp66 = state_delegate[%d]* | regexp67 = state_house[%d]* | regexp68 = state_legislature[%d]* | regexp69 = state_senate[%d]* | regexp70 = status[%d]* | regexp71 = suboffice[%d]* | regexp72 = subterm[%d]* | regexp73 = succeeded[%d]* | regexp74 = succeeding[%d]* | regexp75 = successor[%d]* | regexp76 = taoiseach[%d]* | regexp77 = term[%d]* | regexp78 = term_end[%d]* | regexp79 = term_label[%d]* | regexp80 = term_start[%d]* | regexp81 = termend[%d]* | regexp82 = termlabel[%d]* | regexp83 = termstart[%d]* | regexp84 = title[%d]* | unit | unit_label | regexp85 = vicegovernor[%d]* | regexp86 = vicepremier[%d]* | regexp87 = vicepresident[%d]* | regexp88 = viceprimeminister[%d]* | regexp89 = assuming[%d]* | website | width | year }}

John Mercer Johnson (October 1818 – November 8, 1868) was a Canadian lawyer and politician from the Province of New Brunswick, and a Father of Confederation. He represented Northumberland in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1850 to 1865, and again from 1866 to 1867, each time elected as a candidate aligned with the liberal movement. Johnson was appointed to the Executive Council of New Brunswick and became the province's solicitor general, postmaster, minister without portfolio and attorney general. He attended all three conferences for Canadian Confederation and supported Canada's creation. In the first parliament for the country of Canada, Johnson was elected to represent Northumberland, serving in the role from 1867 to 1868 as a Liberal member. Plaques have been erected in his honour in Chatham, his hometown, and a mountain in Northumberland county was named for him.

Early life and educationEdit

Johnson was born in Liverpool, England, in October 1818. His father was also named John Mercer Johnson, and he was a merchant and public official in Chatham, New Brunswick; his mother was named Ellen.<ref name="Biographi" /><ref name="Hamilton">Template:Cite book</ref> The younger Johnson emigrated to Chatham, New Brunswick, in 1821. He studied at Northumberland County Grammar School, then in the law office of John Ambrose Street. In 1837, he became the secretary of the Young Men's Debating Society in Chatham. He became an attorney on October 13, 1838, and a barrister in October 1840.<ref name="Biographi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legal careerEdit

In 1840, Johnson opened a law office in Chatham and joined a professional partnership with C. A. Harding, but the partnership ended two years later.<ref name="Biographi" /><ref name="Hamilton" /> In 1842 he became the second lieutenant of the 1st Battalion of New Brunswick Rifle Company.<ref name="Hamilton" /> In 1846, he became the secretary of the Chatham Mechanics' institute and lectured on phrenology, a belief that bumps on the skull can predict mental traits. In October 1847, he joined a legal partnership with Peter Mitchell, which ended in 1852 when Mitchell wanted to pursue a business in lumbering and shipbuilding.<ref name="Biographi" /><ref name="Gowan">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1851, he donated land for the construction of a temperance hall.<ref name="Biographi" />

New Brunswick politicsEdit

On July 22, 1850, Johnson was elected to the New Brunswick assembly as one of the representatives from Northumberland.<ref name="Speakers">Template:Cite book</ref> The assembly was non-partisan but Johnson was considered a liberal candidate and campaigned on implementing responsible government.<ref name="Biographi" /><ref name="Copp 2008" /> He won his reelection on June 20, 1854.<ref name="Speakers" /> Under the premiership of Charles Fisher, Johnson was appointed to the Executive Council of New Brunswick on October 31, 1854, and became the province's solicitor general.<ref name="Speakers" /> This council, which included Johnson, Samuel Leonard Tilley, John William Ritchie and William Steeves, became known as the Smashers administration.<ref name="Coucill 142">Template:Cite book</ref> He was reelected in the election on June 27, 1856,<ref name="Speakers" /> but was not reappointed to the council when a conservative government won the majority of seats in the New Brunswick assembly.<ref name="Biographi" /> He was reelected on May 5, 1857, and returned to the executive council on June 1, 1857, as postmaster general.<ref name="Speakers" /> Johnson was uninterested in running the department, leaving administrative tasks to the clerks. This led to a chaotic ministry and his opponents accused him of collecting a salary without doing the work his office required. He resigned from this position in November 1858 and remained on the colony's executive council as a minister without portfolio.<ref name="Biographi" />

On February 11, 1859, Johnson was elected as the speaker of the New Brunswick assembly and resigned from the council.<ref name="Biographi" /> In 1860 he was appointed as a judge for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and became captain of the revived 1st Battalion, which became known as the Chatham Rifles.<ref name="Hamilton" /><ref name="Copp 2008">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1862 he became a trustee of the County Grammar School.<ref name="Hamilton" /> He was re-elected as the assembly's speaker on February 12, 1862, but resigned later that year when he was appointed to be the attorney general under the premiership of Tilley. He won a subsequent election for his seat, caused by accepting a position as a minister.<ref name="Speakers" /> He remained the attorney general until 1865.<ref name="Biographi" />

Canadian confederationEdit

File:Charlottetown Conference Delegates, September 1864.JPG

The attendees of the Charlottetown Conference. Johnson is standing fifth from the right in the back row, partially blocked by John Hamilton Gray and Samuel Leonard Tilley

Johnson represented New Brunswick at the Charlottetown Conference and the Quebec Conference in 1864 to discuss the merger of the eastern British colonies of North America into a confederation of Canada.<ref name="Biographi" /> His participation in these conferences gives him the status of a Father of Confederation in Canada.<ref name="CE FoC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the Charlottetown Conference, he favoured a legislative union of the colonies and suggested that provinces might be dissolved or merged. He suggested that Prince Edward Island merge with New Brunswick, which irritated the other delegates at the conference and was rejected.<ref name="CE JMJ">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Moore 52">Template:Cite book</ref>

He changed his mind before the Quebec Conference and thought the legislative union would be impractical. In the Quebec conference, he supported a strong, centralised federal government that would have control of the court system.<ref name="Biographi" /> His argument followed social contract ideas, where the provinces should forfeit some of their national rights as individual provinces to create a better society.<ref name="Hail 382">Template:Cite journal</ref> Other delegates disagreed with him and wanted more provincial control of the courts. This led to a compromise where the federal government enacts criminal laws and appoints county judges, while the provinces enact civil laws and administer the courts.<ref name="OJ 1967">Template:Cite news</ref>

He was defeated in the re-election for his seat on March 18, 1865,<ref name="Speakers" /> by an anti-confederation candidate.<ref name="Biographi" /> He won the subsequent election for his Northumberland seat on May 25, 1866.<ref name="Speakers" /> He continued advocating for the Canadian confederation, and encouraged the British colonies to remove their provincial identities and unite under a single Canadian federal government.<ref name="Founding Debates 246">Template:Cite book</ref> He stated his belief that the American Civil War was caused by a weak central government. He also believed that if Canada adopted an American model of government they would either eventually merge with America or become a republic.<ref name="Founding Debates 179-180">Template:Cite book</ref> His goal was to maintain Canada's connection to Britain, declaring that British institutions were more democratic than American ones.<ref name="Azjenstat 77">Template:Cite book</ref> He also opposed the establishment of a judicial system that could override the other branches of government; if the rights of local governments were interfered with by federal law, the government could appeal to the British parliament.<ref name="Founding Debates 275">Template:Cite book</ref> His belief was that parliament reflected citizens' political opinions, instead of each parliamentarian just representing their constituencies,<ref name="Bateman 27-28">Template:Cite journal</ref> and that referendums were not required to change the constitution of Canada or to enact new policies.<ref name="Azjenstat 27">Template:Cite book</ref>

He attended the London Conference of 1866, making him one of eleven Fathers of Confederation to have attended all three conferences that led to the establishment of the Constitution Act, 1867.<ref name="Droüin 2014">Template:Cite journal</ref> While in London he entertained the other members and the public with poetry presentations and ice-skating performances.<ref name="Copp 2008" /> He resigned from the New Brunswick assembly in June 1867 to run for the Canadian legislature.<ref name="Biographi" />

Canadian politicsEdit

On September 4, 1867, Johnson was elected as the first representative for Northumberland in the Canadian House of Commons as part of the Liberal Party of Canada.<ref name="PoC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He defeated Thomas F. Gillespie in the election.<ref name="Hamilton" /> Johnson and Peter Mitchell were given the moniker "the Northumberland County Smashers" for their work in representing Miramichi, one of the cities in Johnson's Northumberland constituency.<ref name="Tremblay 13">Template:Cite book</ref>

Personal life and deathEdit

On October 9, 1845, he married Henrietta Shirreff; they had twelve children,<ref name="Biographi" /> of which six children survived into adulthood. Their children included Ada E. Johnson, a teacher and organist, Andrew H., a lawyer, and Edward, who ran a stationery business in Chatham.<ref name="Hamilton" />

Johnson's health deteriorated for more than a year before he became seriously ill in September 1868, and died in his home in Chatham on November 8, 1868.<ref name="Speakers" /><ref name="Biographi" /> The cause of death was a buildup of fluid in the stomach, blamed on "social excess".<ref name="Biographi" /> This might refer to Johnson's alleged excessive drinking and gambling habits.<ref name="CE JMJ" /> He was buried at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Chatham.<ref name="Anon Miramichi Leader">Template:Cite news</ref>

In memoriamEdit

A plaque was placed in 1927 for Johnson's honour at St. Paul's Church in Chatham by the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire.<ref name="Hamilton" /> In the 1940s, a bronze plaque was installed on the post office in Chatham dedicated to Johnson.<ref name="National Parks">Template:Cite journal</ref> A street is named after him in the Chatham neighbourhood.<ref name="Copp 2008" /> In 1964, the provincial names authority named Mount Johnson, a mountain south of Nepisiguit River in New Brunswick, after Johnson,<ref name="Rayburn 133">Template:Cite book</ref> and the Order in Council for the mountain's name took effect on September 1, 1964, in honour of the 100th anniversary of the New Brunswick delegates arrival to the Charlottetown Conference.<ref name="Windsor 1964">Template:Cite news</ref>

Electoral recordEdit

Template:1867 Canadian federal election/Northumberland

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist