Thomas Johnson (November 4, 1732 – October 26, 1819) was an 18th-century American lawyer, politician, and patriot. He was a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774, where he signed the Continental Association; commander of the Maryland militia in 1776; and elected first (non-Colonial) governor of Maryland in 1777. Throughout his career, Johnson maintained a personal and political friendship with George Washington, who gave him a recess appointment as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in August 1791. Citing poor health, he served only briefly and resigned in January 1793, with the second shortest tenure of any Supreme Court justice.
Thomas Johnson
Supreme Court of the United States
Born 1732 in Calvert County, MD
Died 1819 in Frederick, MD
FJC ID: 1186
- Gender
- Male
- Race
- White
Prior employment
- Maryland General CourtChief judge · 1790–1791
- Private practice, Frederick, Maryland1780–1790
- MarylandState delegate · 1780–1782, 1786–1788
- MarylandGovernor · 1777–1780
- Continental CongressDelegate · 1774–1777
- Maryland Militia brigadier general1776–1777
- Lower House, Maryland Proprietary AssemblyMember · 1762–1774
- Private practice, Annapolis, Maryland1760–1762
Appointments
1791–1793 · Appointed by George WashingtonTerm ended: Resignation
Education
- Read law1760