Royal C. Johnson

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Royal Cleaves Johnson (October 3, 1882-August 2, 1939) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota. He was born in Cherokee, Iowa in 1882.

He moved with his parents to Highmore, South Dakota in 1883, and attended the public schools. He graduated from the law department of the University of South Dakota in 1906, and was admitted to the bar that same year. He started his practice in Highmore. He became the assistant state's attorney for Hyde County in 1906, and State's Attorney in 1908 and 1909. In 1910, he became the Attorney General of South Dakota. In 1913, he moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota and returned to private practice. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1915, serving through the end of the Seventy-Second Congress in 1932. He was the chairman for the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War(1921-1925), and the Committee on World War Veteran's Legislateion (1929-1932). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1932.

In 1918, he absented himself from the House and enlisted in the United States Army to fight in World War I. He served in the 313th Infantry as a private, sergeant, second lieutenant, and first lieutenant. He received the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States government and the Croix de Guerre with gold star from the Republic of France.

Upon returning from the house, he continued to practice law in Washington, D. C., until his death there in 1939.

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.