Sir Henry Johnson, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Henry Johnson, 1st Baronet
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Sir Henry Johnson, 1st Baronet
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| Born | 1 January 1748 Dublin, Kingdom of Ireland |
| Died | 18 March 1835 Bath |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Battles/wars | American War of Independence French Revolutionary Wars |
Sir Henry Johnson (born January 1, 1748 – died March 18, 1835) was a very important general in the British Army. He was born in Ireland and became a Major-General. He fought in major conflicts like the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
Sir Henry Johnson was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the second son of Allen Johnson. His family was well-known in County Dublin.
He started his army career very young. In 1761, at just 13 years old, he became an ensign. This was a junior officer rank. He quickly moved up, becoming a lieutenant in 1762. By 1763, he was a captain. He served with his regiment, possibly in the West Indies.
Fighting in America
In 1775, Henry Johnson became a major. He went to North America to fight in the American Revolutionary War. This was a war where the American colonies fought for their independence.
He led special light infantry troops. These soldiers were fast and agile. He commanded them in important campaigns from 1776 to 1778. In 1778, he became a lieutenant-colonel. He then led the 17th Regiment of Foot. He fought under Lord Cornwallis.
His regiment was part of the British forces. They were involved in battles in Virginia and Carolina. In October 1781, the British surrendered at Yorktown. After this, Johnson returned home.
Service in Ireland and Beyond
After the war, Johnson commanded his regiment in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. These were British territories.
When the war with France began, he got a new job. He became the inspector-general for recruiting soldiers in Ireland. He held this important role until 1798.
In 1798, a big rebellion happened in Ireland. This was called the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Sir Henry Johnson was sent to take control of New Ross. He had about three thousand soldiers with him. On June 5, 1798, the rebels attacked New Ross. Johnson and his troops fought bravely. They successfully defeated the rebels. This was one of the toughest battles of the rebellion.
Later Career and Legacy
Sir Henry Johnson continued to rise through the ranks. In 1798, he became a colonel. He was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1799. He also became the governor of Ross Castle in 1801.
From 1798 to 1803, he held a major general's command in Ireland. He became a full general in 1809. In 1818, he was honored with a special title. He was made a baronet, becoming Sir Henry Johnson, 1st Baronet. In 1819, he was transferred to lead the 5th Regiment of Foot.
Sir Henry Johnson passed away on March 18, 1835. He was 87 years old. He died in Bath, England. There is a special monument to him in the Abbey Church there.
Family Life
In 1782, Sir Henry Johnson married Rebecca Franks. She was from Philadelphia, America. They had a family together. Rebecca passed away in 1823.
Their oldest son was Henry Allen Johnson. He was born in 1785. He later became the second baronet after his father. He also served as an aide-de-camp to the Prince of Orange.
Their younger son, George, was also a soldier. He was a captain in the 81st Foot. Sadly, George was killed in Portugal in 1812.
