Herschel Vespasian Johnson
Born: September 18, 1812
Birthplace: Farmer’s Bridge, Burke County, Georgia
Father: Moses Johnson
Mother: Nancy Palmer 1786 – 1855
(Buried: Hopeful Baptist Church, Dyes Crossroad, Georgia)
Wife: Ann Fromentine Polk 1809 – 1884
(Buried: Louisville City Cemetery, Louisville, Georgia)
Children:
Tallulah Johnson Horne 1840 – 1925
(Buried: West Hill Cemetery, Dalton, Georgia)
Captain Tomlinson Fort Johnson Sr. 1846 – 1919
(Buried: Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia)
Political Party: Democratic Party
Education:
1834: Graduated from University of Georgia
Occupation before War:
1839: Moved to his plantation Sandy Grove in Jefferson County
1839 – 1844: Attorney in Louisville Georgia
1843: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Congressman
1844: Democratic Party Presidential Elector
1844 – 1848: Attorney in Milledgeville, Georgia
1847: Unsuccessful Candidate for Governor of Georgia
1848: appointed to U.S. Senate to fill vacancy of Walter T. Colquitt
1848 – 1849: United States Senator from Georgia
1849: Choose not to be a candidate for election to fill vacancy
1849 – 1853: Judge of Ocmulgee Circuit Superior Court
1852: Democratic Party Presidential Elector
1853 – 1857: Governor of Georgia
1857 – 1861: Attorney and Plantation Owner in Louisville, Georgia
1860: Unsuccessful Democratic Party Vice – Presidential Candidate
Civil War Career:
1861: Delegate to Georgia State Secession Convention
1863 – 1865: Confederate States Senator from Georgia
1863: Joined the Confederate States Senate on January 19th.
1863: Proposed constitutional amendment permitting nullification
1863 – 1864: Member of Senate Finance Committee
1863: Temporary Member of Senate Post Offices and Post Roads
1863 – 1865: Member of Senate Naval Affairs Committee
1864: Member of Senate Foreign Affairs Committee
Disliked most of the Davis Administration Programs
He was known for his skills for compromise even in emergency
He supported Higher taxes but he would accept them only on income
He saw a need for impressment
1863: Proposed impossible restrictions on impressment operation.
Worked to improve the army but opposed conscription
He was against inflation control, arming the slaves and suspending the writ of habeas corpus
Was a leader in plotting for an honorable peace.
1865: Worked for reconstruction with only the guarantee that slavery would be recognized
Occupation after War:
1865: President of Georgia State Constitutional Convention
1865 – 1873: Attorney in Louisville, Georgia
1866: Presented credentials to serve as US Senator but not allowed.
1873 – 1880: Judge of Georgia Middle Circuit Court
Died: August 16, 1880
Place of Death: Sandy Grove Plantation, Louisville, Georgia
Age at time of Death: 67 years old
Burial Place: Louisville City Cemetery, Louisville, Georgia
Last edited by a moderator: