Guy Johnson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the English cellist, see Guy Johnston. For the American sociologist, see Guy Benton Johnson.
This painting by Benjamin West is traditionally identified as a portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson, though a recent biography of Sir William Johnson claims that it actually depicts Sir William, Guy's uncle.[citation needed]
This painting by Benjamin West is traditionally identified as a portrait of Colonel Guy Johnson, though a recent biography of Sir William Johnson claims that it actually depicts Sir William, Guy's uncle.[citation needed]

Guy Johnson (c.1740 – 5 March 1788) was an Irish-born military officer and diplomat for the Crown during the American Revolutionary War. He was the son of either John or Warren Johnson of Smithstown, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, the two younger brothers of Sir William Johnson.

In 1756, he sailed from Ireland and joined his uncle William in the Mohawk Valley of the Province of New York. In 1763, Guy Johnson married William's daughter Mary (Polly), and his uncle (now also father-in-law) gave them a square mile of land on the Mohawk River. In 1773, their first home there was destroyed by a lightning strike, but was then replaced by a large limestone house, which they called Guy Park. The house still stands in what is now Amsterdam, New York.

Guy Johnson became a deputy to Sir William in his uncle's position as British Superintendent of Indian Affairs and succeeded him when William died in 1774 on the eve of the war. Guy was also a county judge, a colonel in the Tryon County militia and a member of the Province of New York Assembly.

[edit] American Revolution

When the American revolutionary Committee of Safety sought power in 1775, Johnson remained loyal to the Crown and worked to control the Tryon County courts, assisted by fellow loyalists Sir John Johnson (Sir William's son) and Colonel Daniel Claus (another son-in-law of Sir William). These three also commanded three regiments of the Tryon County militia. However, American Patriots soon drove these men out of power. Johnson received a letter from General Gage ordering him to take as many Indians as he could to Canada to join forces with General Carleton for a joint attack on New England. Johnson fled with about 120 other loyalist and 90 Indians to British-controlled Canada in May, 1775. Johnson worked to secure the allegiance of the Iroquois at a council at Oswego, New York in July. They arrived in Montreal on July 17. Johnson's wife died during this trip.

In September, 1775, John Campbell arrived in Quebec with the title of Superintendent of the Canadian Indians. Guy Carleton told Johnson that he had no authority over any Indians in Canada and that the Indians were not to fight outside the Province of Quebec. Johnson decided to travel to England in November, 1775 with Joseph Brant to appeal his case with the British Lords. The Lords made Johnson the permanent Superintendent for Indian Affairs in the northern colonies, but with no authority in Canada. They returned back to New York City in July, 1776 after the city had been retaken by the British. He was ordered to stay in New York since he had no position in Canada. Guy finally was able to persuade his superiors to let him do his "duty' and he returned to Canada in 1779. Those years were eventful ones on the New York frontier, and included the Wyoming Valley Massacre and Cherry Valley Massacre, which were carried out by his subordinates.

Back at Fort Niagara in 1779, Johnson helped to provide for the Iroquois refugees from the Sullivan Expedition, and then helped to co-ordinate counter-raids. In 1781, General MacLean reported Johnson's accounts were "Extravagant, wonderful & fictitious, and the quality of articles so extraordinary, new & uncommon". Johnson was suspended as superintendent and summed to Montreal where Frederick Haldimand called Johnson's conduct "reprehensible". Although never convicted, Guy remained in disgrace and in limbo. He went to London to defend his accounts and died there in 1788.

Sir John Johnson took over Fort Niagara as superintendent in Guy's absence and officially received the position in March, 1782.

[edit] References

[edit] External links