Biography Of Col. Richard M Johnson

The Authentic biography of Colonel Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky was published in 1833.

Richard Mentor Johnson, the third son of Colonel Robert Johnson, was born in the autumn of 1780/1, in Kentucky, which was then a county in Virginia.  After some local schooling, Richard M. Johnson attended Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and then studied law.  He represented the citizens of Scott County, Kentucky, when he was quite young, and took his seat in the U.S. Congress in October of 1807.  While in Congress the whole country was in an uproar when the British frigate Leopard attacked frigate Chesapeake.

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The other dispute referenced above occurred in 1802 when the Spanish Intendant closed the Port at New Orleans to the United States, in violation of a treaty.  War was anticipated, especially in the Western States.  Richard Johnson, at age 20, volunteered for military service and was elected to command a company.  The dispute was settled peacefully.

Richard M. Johnson, while still a member of Congress, offered to be an aid to General Harrison, who was then in charge of the Kentucky troops as well as his own Indiana soldiers, and also offered to recruit for the military.

Other posts relating to Richard Johnson here.

Richard M. Johnson

He was thought to have been the soldier who killed Tecumseh in battle.

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Richard Mentor Johnson

Richard M. Johnson, a Kentucky politician, was Martin Van Buren's Vice President.  One of the most unique aspects of his life, however, was his common-law marriage to Julia Chinn, who was 1/8 black.  He and Julia had two daughters.  After Julia's death, he had two other common-law marriages with slave women.

David Thomson And Notes From The Show Me State

Search results for the term "1812" in the State Historical Society of Missouri and the Berry-Thomson-Walker Family papers here.

From the Berry-Thomson-Walker Collection: "Printed biography of David Thomson, Kentucky state senator, who was engaged for a time in transportation of goods on the Mississippi River and tributaries and was commissioned a general when he fought with Richard M. Johnson in the War of 1812. The work mentions slaves, milling, Richard M. Johnson, and family genealogy."


The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society included a biography of David Thomson here.

Colonel Johnson's Vote For War

The Authentic biography of Colonel Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky was listed on Mirlyn  at the University of Michigan library with a link for an online edition.

"While an infant, he was among the number of women and children in the fort at Bryan's station, when a furious assault was made upon it by five hundred Indians, and successfully defended by only thirty, men. Dangers like these, which attended him continually in youth, had formed his mind to habits of peril, that made an impression never to be erased. His friends believed him to be possessed of military talents, capable of elevating him to a rank among the first commanders of the day."

 "In June, 1812, war was declared by Congress ; and for that declaration Col. Johnson gave his vote."

Bounty On Knaggs' Head

James Knaggs' testimony from the Congressional serial set:

I hereby certify that the foregoing testimony of James Knaggs... . ...of good reputation in the community. ...intimately conversant with the manners circumstances etc. of the old French population.

Source - Canadian Side Of Detroit River

He was engaged in the various conflicts near the Detroit River already described, and in 1813, was in the battle of the Thames under Colonel Richard M. Johnson. While with Hull at Sandwich attached to Colonel McArthur's regiment, he performed important scout service.

On one occasion, accompanied by four men, he penetrated the country as far as the site of the present village of Chatham on the Thames and there captured a Colonel McGregor a burly British officer and a [man] named Jacobs and carried them to Hull's camp. He tied McGregor to a horse and thus took him to the headquarters of his chief. After the surrender, McGregor offered five hundred dollars for the capture of Knaggs dead or alive.