Chapman Johnson (March 12, 1777 – July 12, 1849) was a nineteenth-century

American politician The politics of the United States function within a framework of a constitutional federal republic and presidential system, with three distinct branches that share powers. These are: the U.S. Congress which forms the legislative branch, a bic ...

from

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

Early life

Johnson was born in Louisa County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the

College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...

in 1802.

Career

As an adult, Johnson lived in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia. He was elected Mayor of Staunton in 1808, and then served in the Virginia state Senate beginning in 1811 through 1831 from a district made up of Augusta, Rockbridge and Pendleton Counties. In the War of 1812, Johnson was the elected captain of a volunteer company and was appointed aide to General

James Breckinridge James Breckinridge (March 7, 1763May 13, 1833) was a Virginia lawyer and politician and a member of the Breckinridge family. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives. He also fought in the Ame ...

. He was governor of the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

from 1819 to 1845, and rector from 1836 to 1845. Johnson was elected as a delegate to the

Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830 Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are s ...

. There he was elected by the Convention to serve on the Legislative Committee. He was one of four delegates elected from the senatorial district made up his home district. During the debates, he was a floor leader for the White Basis Party in the Convention, seeking reapportionment of the state legislature to represent citizens only, without weighting the legislature by counting slaves held as property. The existing regime made the eastern slave-holding counties a permanent majority in the General Assembly opposing direct election of the Governor and internal improvements to connect the western and eastern regions of the state.

Death

Chapman Johnson died July 12, 1849, at

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

. Pulliam 1901, p. 78 political graveyard

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Chapman Virginia state senators 1779 births 1849 deaths People from Louisa County, Virginia College of William & Mary alumni Mayors of Staunton, Virginia American military personnel of the War of 1812 People from Virginia in the War of 1812 19th-century American politicians