William Samuel Johnson-Signer of the Constitution

William Samuel Johnson was a very interesting founding father.  He was born October 7, 1727 in Stratford, Connecticut and he died November 14, 1819 in the same town.  His father was an Anglican clergyman who expected his son to be the same.  Johnson, however, didn't follow in his father's footsteps, but instead went to school to study law.  He received a degree from Yale as well as honorary degree's from Harvard and Oxford.

The reason why William Johnson is such an interesting founding father is this: he remained neutral during the Revolutionary War.  Johnson had many ties to England both secular (honorary degree from Oxford) and religious.  He agreed with the Colonists concerning their many redress' for representation, but he believed justice could be obtained through political means.  In fact, he served on a colonial committee that wrote an address to the king concerning the Stamp Act in 1765.  In his neutrality he spoke against extremism from both sides.  Because of his neutrality, however, he was not well liked by fellow American colonists.  An example of this is the fact that they took his twenty year commission as an officer in Connecticut's Militia away from him.  Once King George III accepted America as an independent sovereignty Johnson was glad to join in committing his knowledge of law to help form the new nation.

He attended the Constitutional Convention as a delegate from Connecticut.  As a delegate, he gave inspiring speeches on the subject of representation that weighed heavily among other delegates.  He gave support to the Connecticut Compromise which was very similar to other ideas wanting a bi-lateral congress with a Senate and House of Representatives.  Johnson also served on the Committee of Style in forming the Constitution.  William Samuel Johnson was another great founder who, while not always agreeing with the patriots during the Revolution,  gave great wisdom in the forming of the United States Constitution.