JOHNSON, Wits.tim ( 1727-1819 ) . An American jurist and educator, born at Strat ford, Conn. He was the son of Rev. Samuel Johnson (q.v.), who became the first president of King's College (now Columbia). lie was gradu ated at Yale in 1744. and in 1747 received the degree of A.M. from Harvard. After graduation he planned to enter the Church. and worked for a time for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, but changed his plans, studied law, and practiced in the courts of Connecticut and New York. In 1761 and 1765 he was a member of the Lower House of the Connecticut Legislature. and then was made a member of the Upper House or Governor's Council. In 1765 he was a dele gate from Connecticut to the meeting at New York known as the Stamp Act Congress. From 1766 to 1771 he was in London as counsel for the Colony in litigation concerning the title to land secured from the Mohegan Indians. On his re turn he was again a member of the Governor's Council. and in 1772 was made judge of the Su perior Court. After the battle of Lexington he was one of a committee sent to General Gage to consider the possibility of peace. He was op posed to the war, and during its progress re mained quietly at home practicing his profession, though he contributed money to the .American
cause. From 1784 to 1787 he was a member of the Continental Congress. and in 1787 was at the bead of the Connecticut delegation to the con vention to form the Federal Constitution. He was again made a member of the Governor's Council, and also in this year (17S7) the first president of Columbia College after its reorgan ization. In 1789 he was elected the first Senator of the United States from Connecticut. When the seat of government was removed to Philadel phia lie attended one session of Congress. but in 1793 resigned in order to devote his whole time to the college. In 1800, on account of failing health, he resigned the presidency and retired to Stratford. where he lived quietly until his death. He received the degree of D.C.L. from Oxford in 1766. and later LL.D. from Yale. While in made many friends, among them being Dr. Samuel Johnson, with \Omni lie corresponded. Ilis letters to the Governors of Connecticut during this period giving his view upon the colonial situation are printed in the Massachusetts Historical Collection, 5th series, vol. ix. Consult Beardsley. Life of William 'Samuel Johnson (Boston, 1376).