JOHNSON, Richard Mentor, American statesman and soldier: b. Floyd's Station, near Louisville, Ky., 17 Oct. 1780; d. Frankfort, Kv., 19 Nov. 1850. He was educated at Transyl vania University, and subsequently studied law and practised with success. He commenced his public career as a member of the Kentucky legislature, to which he was elected at 23, and in 1807 was returned to Congress, and remained a member of the House until 1819. He was a firm supporter of the administration of Mad ison, and upon the commencement of the War of 1812 raised a body of Kentucky mounted riflemen, whom he commanded, on the Cana dian frontier. The decisive charge of his mounted volunteers mainly contributed to the brilliant victory gained over the British and Indians at the battle of the Thames, 5 Oct. 1813, and it was 'by his hand that the Indian leader Tecumseh is commonly supposed to have fallen. In 1819 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate, of which he continued a member until 1829, when he was again returned to the House of Representatives.
He remained a member until 'his election by the senate in March, 1837, as Vice-President of the United States. He discharged the duties of presiding officer of the Senate for four years, and in the Presidential election of 1840 was an unsuccessful candidate of the Democratic party for Vice-President. He thenceforth lived chiefly in retirement. He was, however, serv ing a term in the State legislature at the time of his death. In Congress his chief efforts were against the discontinuance of the Sunday mails, and in behalf of soldiers of the Revolu tion or of the War of 1812, who applied for pensions. He was the author of the law abol ishing imprisonment for debt in Kentucky.