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Lot Essay
Sir Henry Johnson 1st Bt. (1748-1835)
Johnson was born in 1748, the second son Allen Johnson (d. 1747) of Kilternan, co. Dublin and his wife, Olivia, the daughter of John Walsh of Ballykilcavan, Queen's county. Having entered the army in 1761, Johnson rose through the ranks to become Major-General by 1793 and General in 1808. He was wounded and made a prisoner while in command of a battalion of Irish light infantry during the American Revolutionary War.
He married, in 1782, Rebecca Franks, returning to England after the capture of Yorktown. By 1798 he was sent to County Wexford, ending up overseeing the defence of New Ross in June that year. It seemed initially that Johnson and his troops would be defeated, having been driven from the town during a siege that morning but Johnson was able to recapture the town. Of his bravery Lord Cornwallis said "Johnson, although a wrong-headed blockhead, is adored for his defence at New Ross, and considered as the saviour of the south."
He was created a baronet in 1818 and died at his home in Bath in 1835, being succeeded in the baronetcy by his son.
Johnson was born in 1748, the second son Allen Johnson (d. 1747) of Kilternan, co. Dublin and his wife, Olivia, the daughter of John Walsh of Ballykilcavan, Queen's county. Having entered the army in 1761, Johnson rose through the ranks to become Major-General by 1793 and General in 1808. He was wounded and made a prisoner while in command of a battalion of Irish light infantry during the American Revolutionary War.
He married, in 1782, Rebecca Franks, returning to England after the capture of Yorktown. By 1798 he was sent to County Wexford, ending up overseeing the defence of New Ross in June that year. It seemed initially that Johnson and his troops would be defeated, having been driven from the town during a siege that morning but Johnson was able to recapture the town. Of his bravery Lord Cornwallis said "Johnson, although a wrong-headed blockhead, is adored for his defence at New Ross, and considered as the saviour of the south."
He was created a baronet in 1818 and died at his home in Bath in 1835, being succeeded in the baronetcy by his son.