John Seward Johnson I
Encyclopedia
John Seward Johnson I was one of the sons of Robert Wood Johnson I
(co-founder of Johnson & Johnson
). He was also known as J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and Seward Johnson. He founded the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI), and was the grandfather of Jamie Johnson who directed the documentary Born Rich
.
to Robert Wood Johnson I
and Evangeline Brewster Armstrong. He had three siblings: Roberta Johnson, Robert Wood Johnson II
, and Evangeline Johnson.
. They had four children: Mary Lea Johnson Richards
, Elaine Johnson, John Seward Johnson II
, and Diana Melville Johnson. Johnson would go on to sexually abuse his eldest daughter from age nine to fifteen.
In 1939, Johnson married Esther Underwood. They had two children: Jennifer Underwood Johnson and James Loring Johnson.
During his thirty-two year marriage, he engaged in extramarital affairs with his chambermaid Barbara Piasecka
. In 1971, they married with none of Johnson's children in attendance. Piasecka Johnson often physically and emotionally abused her husband. He signed his final will on April 14, 1983, leaving the bulk of his fortune to her. In that year, Johnson died of cancer at the age of 87. In accordance with the terms of the will, she received $402,824,971.59.
The exclusion of the rest of his family from the will led to at least three highly publicized legal battles: One in which his six children from his first two marriages sued on grounds that he wasn't mentally competent at the time he signed the will. It was settled out of court, and the children were granted about 12% of the fortune. The second legal dispute was regarding the eligibility of Mary Lea Johnson Richards
' husband's share of the fortune, which lasted twelve years. The court ruled in favor of her husband. The third battle was regarding the eligibility of John Seward Johnson II
's daughter's share of the fortune. The court ruled in favor of his daughter. In addition, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution contested the new will, and eventually received $20 million in the settlement.
Robert Wood Johnson I
Robert Wood Johnson I was an American industrialist. He was also one of the three brothers who founded Johnson & Johnson.-Early life:...
(co-founder of Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
). He was also known as J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and Seward Johnson. He founded the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI), and was the grandfather of Jamie Johnson who directed the documentary Born Rich
Born Rich
Born Rich is a 2003 documentary about the experience of growing up as a child in one of the world's richest families. It was created by Jamie Johnson, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune....
.
Early life
He was born on July 14, 1895 in New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
to Robert Wood Johnson I
Robert Wood Johnson I
Robert Wood Johnson I was an American industrialist. He was also one of the three brothers who founded Johnson & Johnson.-Early life:...
and Evangeline Brewster Armstrong. He had three siblings: Roberta Johnson, Robert Wood Johnson II
Robert Wood Johnson II
Robert Wood "General" Johnson II was an American businessman. He was one of the sons of Robert Wood Johnson I . He turned the family business into one of the world's largest healthcare corporations.- Early life :Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey...
, and Evangeline Johnson.
Personal life
Johnson's first marriage was to Ruth Dill, the sister of actress Diana DillDiana Dill
Diana Love Dill is a Bermudian actress, active in the U.S., who has also appeared professionally under the names Diana Douglas and Diana Douglas Darrid.-Personal life:...
. They had four children: Mary Lea Johnson Richards
Mary Lea Johnson Richards
Mary Lea Johnson Richards was an American heiress, entrepreneur, and Broadway producer. She was a granddaughter of Robert Wood Johnson I , and the first baby to appear on a J&J baby powder label....
, Elaine Johnson, John Seward Johnson II
John Seward Johnson II
John Seward Johnson II also known as J. Seward Johnson, Jr. and Seward Johnson is an American artist known for his trompe l'oeil painted bronze statues, and a grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I ....
, and Diana Melville Johnson. Johnson would go on to sexually abuse his eldest daughter from age nine to fifteen.
In 1939, Johnson married Esther Underwood. They had two children: Jennifer Underwood Johnson and James Loring Johnson.
During his thirty-two year marriage, he engaged in extramarital affairs with his chambermaid Barbara Piasecka
Barbara Piasecka Johnson
Barbara "Basia" Piasecka Johnson is a humanitarian, philanthropist, art connoisseur and collector.-Early life:...
. In 1971, they married with none of Johnson's children in attendance. Piasecka Johnson often physically and emotionally abused her husband. He signed his final will on April 14, 1983, leaving the bulk of his fortune to her. In that year, Johnson died of cancer at the age of 87. In accordance with the terms of the will, she received $402,824,971.59.
The exclusion of the rest of his family from the will led to at least three highly publicized legal battles: One in which his six children from his first two marriages sued on grounds that he wasn't mentally competent at the time he signed the will. It was settled out of court, and the children were granted about 12% of the fortune. The second legal dispute was regarding the eligibility of Mary Lea Johnson Richards
Mary Lea Johnson Richards
Mary Lea Johnson Richards was an American heiress, entrepreneur, and Broadway producer. She was a granddaughter of Robert Wood Johnson I , and the first baby to appear on a J&J baby powder label....
' husband's share of the fortune, which lasted twelve years. The court ruled in favor of her husband. The third battle was regarding the eligibility of John Seward Johnson II
John Seward Johnson II
John Seward Johnson II also known as J. Seward Johnson, Jr. and Seward Johnson is an American artist known for his trompe l'oeil painted bronze statues, and a grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I ....
's daughter's share of the fortune. The court ruled in favor of his daughter. In addition, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution contested the new will, and eventually received $20 million in the settlement.
See also
- Johnson v. Johnson (1988, ISBN 0440200415)
- Undue Influence: The Epic Battle for the Johnson & Johnson Fortune (1993, ISBN 0688064256)