Johnson, Sir John, 1742–1830, Loyalist leader in the American Revolution, b. Mohawk valley, N.Y.; son of Sir William Johnson. He fought against the Native Americans in Pontiac's Conspiracy and was one of his father's chief lieutenants. For his services he was knighted in 1765. In the Revolution, like his brother-in-law, Guy Johnson, he set out to organize the settlers and natives of the Mohawk region against the Revolutionaries. The plan failed, and he fled to Montreal. In the Saratoga campaign (1777) he served with Barry St. Leger and led a detachment at Oriskany. Later he led several raids on the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys. After the Revolution, he moved to Canada and in 1782 succeeded Guy Johnson as superintendent of Indian affairs.
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