James Augustus Johnson (May 16, 1829 – May 11, 1896) was a U.S. Representative from California who went on to serve as the state's 14th Lieutenant Governor.
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Johnson was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. When we was quite young he moved with his parents to Arkansas where he attended the common schools. He moved to California in 1853. He studied medicine and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859, then commenced the practice of law in Downieville, California.
Johnson served as a member of the California State Assembly in 1859 and 1860, representing Sierra County. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives for the Fortieth and Forty-first U.S. Congresses, serving from March 4, 1867 until March 3, 1871. He served as Lieutenant Governor of California from 1875 until 1880. After leaving office he moved to San Francisco. He served as registrar of voters in 1883 and 1884.
He continued practicing law until his death in San Francisco at age 66. He was interred in the Masonic Cemetery, and in 1931 was re-interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma, California.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by J. A. Clarke, R. D. Hill |
California State Assemblyman, 20th District 1859-1861 (with Joshiah Lefever, then Thomas J. Haliday) |
Succeeded by John Dougherty, Thomas Wright |
| Preceded by William Irwin Acting Lieutenant Governor |
Lieutenant Governor of California 1875—1880 |
Succeeded by John Mansfield |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by John Bidwell |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 3rd congressional district 1867-1871 |
Succeeded by John M. Coghlan |
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