The Johnson Brothers

Description

Oil on canvas painting of The Johnson Brothers, ca. 1774, by Charles Willson Peale. The older boy (left) is either George or Robert, Jr. They have not yet been positively identified. The younger boy (right) is John Johnson (1770-1824). Born in Annapolis, John studied law and was politically active his entire life. From 1796-1797, he was elected by the General Assembly to serve on the Governor's Council. He served a single term in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1800 before he was elected to the Maryland Senate from 1801-1805. John served as a Presidential elector in 1804 and 1808, supporting Thomas Jefferson and James Madison respectively. He served as Attorney General of Maryland from 1806-1811, followed by a seat on the Maryland Court of Appeals (1811-1821). In 1821, he was appointed the 4th Chancellor of Maryland. Amidst his various judicial appointments he served two terms as Mayor of Annapolis 1803-1804 and 1810-1811. John died of a fever while traveling through western Maryland to settle state boundary disputes with neighboring Virginia.