William Bullein Johnson
Encyclopedia
William Bullein Johnson (13 June 1782 - 2 October 1862) was one of the founders of the South Carolina State Baptist Convention in 1821, and later was the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention
from 1845 to 1851.
and was educated at home in Georgetown, South Carolina
by his mother and by private tutors.
His mother was of the Particular Baptist faith, believing that only some would be saved.
As a child he met President George Washington
and Dr. Richard Furman
, pastor of the First Baptist Church Charleston, who made a great impression on him.
He attended Brown University
, receiving a degree in 1804. He had intended to become a lawyer, but was converted during a Baptist revival in 1804, and devoted the rest of his life to Christian service.
He married Henrietta Hornby in 1803.
One of their eight children who reached maturity, Francis C. Johnson, became a Southern Baptist missionary to China in 1846.
.
In 1810 he was invited to become chaplain of South Carolina College, Columbia
, and founded a Baptist church in Columbia.
In 1811 he accepted an offer to become pastor of the Baptist church in Savannah, Georgia
.
It was here that Johnson met Luther Rice
, who interested him in foreign missions, and whom he helped arrange the General Baptist Missionary Convention, or Triennial Convention, in 1814. He was one of the framers of the constitution of this convention.
Returning to South Carolina, after serving again as pastor of the Columbia church Johnson moved to Greenville, South Carolina
where he was principal of Greenville Female Academy, and founded a Baptist church in the town.
Johnson was one of nine men who formed the South Carolina State Baptist Convention in 1821.
He succeeded Richard Furman as president of the convention and served from 1825 to 1852.
In 1830 he moved to Edgefield
to become principal of Edgefield Female Academy and pastor of Edgefield Baptist Church.
Johnson became the last southern president of the General Baptist Missionary Convention between 1841 and 1844.
As tensions grew between the northern and southern Baptists over the issue of slavery, he attempted to avoid a split but in 1845 was asked become first president of the breakaway Southern Baptists Convention, serving until 1851.
In this role he helped found the Furman University, which became Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
in 1859, based in Greenville, South Carolina
.
Towards the end of his life he was chancellor of Johnson Female University, Anderson, South Carolina
(1853-58).
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
from 1845 to 1851.
Early years
Johnson was born on 13 June 1782 on John's Island, South Carolina, near CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
and was educated at home in Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
by his mother and by private tutors.
His mother was of the Particular Baptist faith, believing that only some would be saved.
As a child he met President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Dr. Richard Furman
Richard Furman
Richard Furman was an influential Baptist leader from Charleston, South Carolina, USA. He was elected in 1814 as the first president of the Triennial Convention, the first nationwide Baptist association...
, pastor of the First Baptist Church Charleston, who made a great impression on him.
He attended Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, receiving a degree in 1804. He had intended to become a lawyer, but was converted during a Baptist revival in 1804, and devoted the rest of his life to Christian service.
He married Henrietta Hornby in 1803.
One of their eight children who reached maturity, Francis C. Johnson, became a Southern Baptist missionary to China in 1846.
Baptist leader
After preaching in several churches from 1804 to 1806, Johnson was appointed pastor of the Baptist church at Euhaw near Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
.
In 1810 he was invited to become chaplain of South Carolina College, Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, and founded a Baptist church in Columbia.
In 1811 he accepted an offer to become pastor of the Baptist church in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
.
It was here that Johnson met Luther Rice
Luther Rice
Luther Rice , was a Baptist minister and missionary to India, who helped form a missionary-sending body that became the modern Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention...
, who interested him in foreign missions, and whom he helped arrange the General Baptist Missionary Convention, or Triennial Convention, in 1814. He was one of the framers of the constitution of this convention.
Returning to South Carolina, after serving again as pastor of the Columbia church Johnson moved to Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
where he was principal of Greenville Female Academy, and founded a Baptist church in the town.
Johnson was one of nine men who formed the South Carolina State Baptist Convention in 1821.
He succeeded Richard Furman as president of the convention and served from 1825 to 1852.
In 1830 he moved to Edgefield
Edgefield, South Carolina
Edgefield is a town in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,449 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Edgefield County.Edgefield is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:...
to become principal of Edgefield Female Academy and pastor of Edgefield Baptist Church.
Johnson became the last southern president of the General Baptist Missionary Convention between 1841 and 1844.
As tensions grew between the northern and southern Baptists over the issue of slavery, he attempted to avoid a split but in 1845 was asked become first president of the breakaway Southern Baptists Convention, serving until 1851.
In this role he helped found the Furman University, which became Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
in 1859, based in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
.
Towards the end of his life he was chancellor of Johnson Female University, Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
(1853-58).