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He was born at "Beargrass", Jefferson County, Kentucky, near the present site of Louisville, and attended Transylvania University. He was admitted to the bar in 1802, and was a member of the state House of Representatives from 1804- 1806 and again in 1819. He was elected as a Democratic-RepublicanThe Democratic-Republican party was a United States political party, which evolved early in the history of the United States. In addition, some refer to the party as the Jeffersonian Republicans since Thomas Jefferson belonged to the party and had a major to the Tenth and to the five succeeding CongressThe United States Congress is the legislative branch of the United States federal government. The structure and responsibilities of Congress are defined in Article One of the United States Constitution. The United States Congress is bicameral, meaning thaes ( March 4March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). There are 302 days remaining. Events Up to 1799 303 or 304 Martyrdom of saint Adrian of Nicomedia. 1152 Frederick I Barbarossa is elected King of the Germans. 1461 King He, 1807Events February Napoleon attacks Russia February 8 Battle of Eylau Napoleon defeats Russians under General Benigssen February 19 In Alabama, Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason. March 2 The United States Congress- March 3March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). There are 303 days remaining. Events 1400-1899 1431 Eugenius IV becomes Pope. 1791 The United States Mint is created by the United States Congress. 1820 The United States, 1819). He was chairman of the Committee on Claims and the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War.
Johnson was commissioned a Colonel of Kentucky Volunteers and commanded a regiment in engagements against the BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly in Lower CanadaLower Canada was a British colony in North America, at the downstream end of the Saint Lawrence River in the southern portion of the modern-day province of Quebec. It was one of the two colonies of the Canadas. The colony was created by the Constitutional in 18131813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). Events March 17 Through a newspaper, the Prussian king Frederick William III of Prussia calls for resistance against the Napoleonic occupation April 27 War of 1812: Battle of York. He was credited by some with personally killing the Shawnee leader Tecumseh during a battle; despite the doubtful accuracy of this claim, Johnson would later use it to good effect in his political career. He was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John J. Crittenden, and was reelected and served from December 10, 1819 to March 3, 1829. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1829.
He was elected to the 21st Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses ( March 4, 1829– March 3, 1837) He was chairman of the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads and the Committee on Military Affairs. He was selected as Vice President by the Senate on February 8, 1837, no candidate having received a majority of the electoral vote, and served under President Martin Van Buren from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1841.
Johnson was a member of the state House of Representatives in 1850, but he died in Frankfort, Kentucky soon after taking his seat. He is interred in the Frankfort Cemetery.
His brothers James and John Telemachus and his nephew Robert Ward Johnson were all members of the House of Representatives, and, in the case of Robert Ward, a Senator as well.
After his first two wives died, the old Jacksonian Democrat had a common-law marriage with a former slave, Julia Chinn , whom he had inherited from his father. Together they had two daughters, Adaline Chinn Johnson and Imogene Chinn Johnson.
Named for Johnson are counties in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Nebraska.