John Albert Johnson
Encyclopedia
This is an article about the former Minnesota governor. For the former Minnesota legislator and speaker of the house, see John A. Johnson
.
John Albert Johnson (July 28, 1861 September 21, 1909) was an American politician. He served in the Minnesota State Senate from January 1897 to January 1901. He was the 16th Governor of Minnesota
from January 4, 1905 until his death on September 21, 1909. He was a Democrat.
He was the first native-born Minnesotan to be elected governor of the state. He was only the second non-Republican governor in the previous 50 years and third since statehood. Lieutenant Governor Adolph Olson Eberhart
became Governor upon the death of Governor Johnson.
Even if he had not been the first Minnesota-born governor, the first to serve a full term in the present state capitol, and the first to die in office, John Johnson would still be remembered as one of the state's most courageous and charismatic leaders. He also was the first Minnesota governor to bask, fleetingly, in the national spotlight when he sought the 1908 Democratic presidential nomination but lost to William Jennings Bryan
.
The eldest child of an impoverished Swedish family abandoned by an alcoholic father, Johnson left school at 13 to support his mother and siblings. Local Democrats, impressed with the enterprising young store clerk, asked him to join their party and edit the strongly Democratic St. Peter Herald. His journalistic success attracted statewide attention and fostered political aspirations.
He failed in early campaigns for state office from his heavily Republican home county but finally was elected to the state senate in 1898, indicating his growing bipartisan appeal. Elected governor three times—in 1904, 1906, and 1908—Johnson's ability to reason and work with legislators of both parties resulted in such reform legislation as reorganization of the state's insurance department to the benefit of policyholders, reduction of railroad passenger and freight rates, and removal of constitutional restraints on the legislature's power to tax.
Johnson began his third term with reservations. His health was precarious, and he wanted to pursue a promising sideline as a public orator. When he died suddenly following surgery at 48, the state's citizens—whom he had served and charmed—were grief-stricken.
Governor John Johnson was the first of three governors to die in office. Governor Winfield Scott Hammond
was the second Minnesota governor to die in office after suffering a stroke in 1915. Floyd B. Olson
was the third and most recent governor to die in office when he died of cancer in 1936.
Statues of him are prominently located on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol
and on the grounds of the Nicollet County
Court House. Johnson Senior High School
in St. Paul
is also named for him.
John A. Johnson (politician)
This is an article about the Minnesota legislator and House Speaker. For the former Governor of Minnesota, see John Albert Johnson.John A. Johnson was a Minnesota politician and a Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives...
.
John Albert Johnson (July 28, 1861 September 21, 1909) was an American politician. He served in the Minnesota State Senate from January 1897 to January 1901. He was the 16th Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
from January 4, 1905 until his death on September 21, 1909. He was a Democrat.
He was the first native-born Minnesotan to be elected governor of the state. He was only the second non-Republican governor in the previous 50 years and third since statehood. Lieutenant Governor Adolph Olson Eberhart
Adolph Olson Eberhart
Adolph Olson Eberhart was an American politician, who served as the 17th Governor of Minnesota.-Background:...
became Governor upon the death of Governor Johnson.
Even if he had not been the first Minnesota-born governor, the first to serve a full term in the present state capitol, and the first to die in office, John Johnson would still be remembered as one of the state's most courageous and charismatic leaders. He also was the first Minnesota governor to bask, fleetingly, in the national spotlight when he sought the 1908 Democratic presidential nomination but lost to William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
.
He failed in early campaigns for state office from his heavily Republican home county but finally was elected to the state senate in 1898, indicating his growing bipartisan appeal. Elected governor three times—in 1904, 1906, and 1908—Johnson's ability to reason and work with legislators of both parties resulted in such reform legislation as reorganization of the state's insurance department to the benefit of policyholders, reduction of railroad passenger and freight rates, and removal of constitutional restraints on the legislature's power to tax.
Johnson began his third term with reservations. His health was precarious, and he wanted to pursue a promising sideline as a public orator. When he died suddenly following surgery at 48, the state's citizens—whom he had served and charmed—were grief-stricken.
Governor John Johnson was the first of three governors to die in office. Governor Winfield Scott Hammond
Winfield Scott Hammond
Winfield Scott Hammond was an American politician. He was a Democrat.Born in 1863 in Southborough, Massachusetts, he served from Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives in the 60th,...
was the second Minnesota governor to die in office after suffering a stroke in 1915. Floyd B. Olson
Floyd B. Olson
Floyd Bjørnstjerne Olson was an American politician. He served as the 22nd Governor of Minnesota from January 6, 1931 to August 22, 1936. He died in office from stomach cancer. He was a member of the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, and was the first member of the Farmer-Labor Party to win the...
was the third and most recent governor to die in office when he died of cancer in 1936.
Statues of him are prominently located on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol
Minnesota State Capitol
The Minnesota State Capitol is located in Minnesota's capital city, Saint Paul, and houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor...
and on the grounds of the Nicollet County
Nicollet County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,771 people, 10,642 households, and 7,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 11,240 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
Court House. Johnson Senior High School
Johnson Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Johnson Senior High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9 to 12 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools...
in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
is also named for him.
External links
- John Albert Johnson on Find-A-Grave
- Biographical information and his gubernatorial records are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.
- Minnesota Legislators Past and Present