Johnson, John

Male 1765 - Abt 1831  (65 years)      Has 4 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.


 Set As Default Person    

Personal Information    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Relationshipwith Living
    Birth 5 Feb 1765 
    Christening 13 Mar 1765  St Mary Staining, City of London, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    FamilySearch ID MQMC-CST 
    Misc
    • Source: https:/​/​technology​.matthey​.com/​article/​61/​3/​257-261/​

      Two Hundred Proud Years – the Bicentenary of Johnson Matthey
      Origins of the company and of today's research activities in science and technology

      The story of the first 200 years of Johnson Matthey is told. The firm was started in 1817 by Percival Johnson, but in 1851 George Matthey became a partner and the present name was derived from these two partners. A number of milestones in its illustrious history are reviewed, and some of the current activities of the company are brought up to date, in this short article.IntroductionThirty-five years ago a magisterial volume was published by Johnson Matthey on "A History of Platinum and its Allied Metals", but despite its title that book is also a history of the firm itself from 1817 to 1982 (1). The present account marks Johnson Matthey's bicentenary, and is much indebted to that volume; many aspects of the story have also been chronicled by Platinum Metals Review and its 2014 successor, the Johnson Matthey Technology Review. Appropriate references to these journals are given wherever possible. A Platinum Metals Review paper marking the firm's sesquicentenary was published in 1967 (2), and a recent paper notes that Johnson Matthey is one of the oldest British chemical firms still in existence (3). In this survey we concentrate on the firm's formative years and, while highlighting its activities with platinum group metals (pgms), include some of Johnson Matthey's considerable recent non-pgm activities.The Johnsons of Maiden LaneThe forebears of Percival Norton Johnson, who in 1817 became the founder of the precursor of Johnson Matthey, came from a family well acquainted with metal assaying and refining (4, 5). His grandfather John Johnson (1737– 1786) had since 1777 been an assayer of ores and metals, mostly silver, gold and some base metals, at No. 7, Maiden Lane (now part of Gresham Street between Wood Street and Foster Lane, London EC2). His son, also John Johnson (1765– 1831) was apprenticed to him in 1779, and on his father's death took over his business, becoming the only commercial assayer in London. Around 1800 he became involved with the rapidly developing platinum metals industry, using crude 'platina' smuggled to Britain via Jamaica from what is now Colombia. His biggest early customer was probably William Hyde Wollaston (1766– 1826) (6), who made many purchases of platina between 1802– 1819 from Johnson. Wollaston developed a secret process for isolating platinum so pure that it could be fashioned into crucibles, chalices and other vessels and drawn into wires much thinner than a human hair; this business made him wealthy. In addition to isolating rhodium and palladium in 1802 (6, 7), he sold to his friend and partner Smithson Tennant some ore from which Tennant in 1804 isolated iridium and osmium (8, 9).Percival Norton Johnson (1792– 1866), was born on 29th September 1792 at 6– 7 Maiden Lane and was apprenticed to his father John Johnson. In 1812, aged only 19, he established his scientific credentials in a paper showing that platinum alloyed with silver and gold would dissolve in nitric acid (10, 11).The Early Years of Percival Johnson's New FirmThe date of foundation of what 34 years later would be called Johnson Matthey is established as January 1st 1817 (1, 2). On that day Percival Johnson left his father's business and set up his own business as an 'Assayer and Practical Mineralogist' with his brother John Frederick as assistant, although he would later collaborate with his father (2). The year 1817 was also that in which Humphry Davy showed that a platinum wire (almost certainly provided by Johnson) would catalyse the combination of oxygen and hydrogen – the first demonstration of heterogeneous catalysis (12, 13).In 1818 Percival moved to 8 Maiden Lane and in 1822 to 79 Hatton Garden, the latter being expanded in 1850. In 1826 he brought in another talented assayer, John Stokes, renaming the firm Johnson and Stokes in 1832. When Stokes died in 1835, William John Cock (1813– 1892), like Percival Johnson a founder member of the Chemical Society in 1841 (14), joined Percival in the firm which was now called Johnson and Cock. William was the son of Thomas Cock (1782– 1842), Percival's brother-in-law, also an assayer.William Cock was a considerable chemist and metallurgist, devising a new procedure for increasing the malleability of platinum, and published 'On Palladium – Its Extraction, Alloys &c.' (15, 16) in one of the earliest of the Chemical Society's papers. Johnson and Cock produced a platinum medal for Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838, and in 1844 made the platinum from which the standard pound weight was made. Cock resigned in 1845 from ill-health, but continued collaboration; Johnson's firm was now called P. N. Johnson & Co (1).Johnson's Firm Renamed Johnson and Matthey
    Misc
    • Eldest son of JJ-I:
      John Johnson II (JJ-II)
      born Feb 5th 1765
      John Johnson II
      married Mary Wright (niece of Martha Wright) 1787
      JJ-II died in Paris, 1831.
      In 1779 the 14 year old John Johnson II (JJ-II) was taken on as apprentice by his father for the statutory 7 years and was released from this aged 21, coincidentally the year his father died in July 1776. He took over the business and married his cousin Mary Wright in 1787.


      Principally an assayer, dealing in scrap bullion and some pharmaceuticals. The scrap bullion included "sweep metal" the product of the Sweep Washers who bought the rubbish and sweepings from work places which used precious metals and recovered these by a process of incineration and extraction with mercury. So even in the late 1700s silver (and gold) recovery was good business. The pharmaceutical side was mainly concerned with making a potion against scurvy, being an infusion of spoonwort grass. But this laid the foundations of the chemical business.


      In 1801 business expanded to include the assaying of ores and metals, reflecting the expansion of late 18th century exploration and exploitation of mineral wealth, culminating in the Industrial Revolution. The City of London was a centre for such enterprise.


      Of particular interest was the sale of native platinum. This element was much in demand by scientists, particularly Dr Wollaston (the inventor of the periscopic lens for the camera obscura) who purchased from him between 1800 and 1821 about a fifth of the 47,000 ounces in total he used for his work. The only source of platinum was the Spanish colony of New Granada (now Colombia) and as exports were not officially allowed, there was a vigorous smuggling trade in the ore with JJ-II as middleman. Likewise the presence of palladium (discovered in 1804) he noted in Brazilian gold. These precious metals became important in photographic toning processes later in the century.
    _UID 82C8A5826F0444948B343429F09A9F43448C 
    Death Abt 1831  Paris, , , France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Patriarch & Matriarch
    Johnson, Christopher
              b. Abt 1711  
              d. Abt 1758  (Age 47 years)  (Grandfather) 
    Wight, Martha
              b. Abt 1740  
              d. Abt 1781  (Age 41 years)  (Mother) 
    Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    Person ID I9059  The Family Maw
    Last Modified 27 Mar 2023 

    Father Ancestors Johnson, John
              b. 1737  
              d. Jul 1786 (Age 49 years) 
    Mother Wight, Martha
              b. Abt 1740  
              d. Abt 1781 (Age 41 years) 
    Marriage 8 May 1760  St Martin In The Fields, Westminster, London, , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • First name(s) Martha
      Last name Wight
      Residence St Martin In The Fields
      Marriage year 1760
      Parish St Martin-In-The-Fields
      Spouse's first name(s) John
      Spouse's last name Johnson
      Spouse residence St Martin In The Fields
      County Middlesex
      Country England
      Archive City of Westminster Archives Centre
      Record set Westminster Marriages
      Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
      Subcategory Parish Marriages
      Collections from England, United Kingdom
      Westminster Archives
      Transcriptions © brightsolid online publishing

      First name(s) Martha
      Last name Wight
      Name note -
      Marriage year 1760
      Marriage date 08 May 1760
      Marriage place Westminster
      Spouse's first name(s) John
      Spouse's last name Johnson
      Spouse's age -
      County Middlesex
      Country England
      Record set England Marriages 1538-1973
      Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
      Subcategory Parish Marriages
      Collections from England, United Kingdom
      Index (c) IRI. Used by permission of FamilySearch Intl

      First name(s) Martha
      Last name Wight
      Residence St Martin In The Fields
      Marriage year 1760
      Parish St Martin-In-The-Fields
      Spouse's first name(s) John
      Spouse's last name Johnson
      Spouse residence St Martin In The Fields
      County Middlesex
      Country England
      Archive City of Westminster Archives Centre
      Record set Westminster Marriages
      Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
      Subcategory Parish Marriages
      Collections from England, United Kingdom
      Westminster Archives
      Transcriptions © brightsolid online publishing
    Age at Marriage He : ~ 23 years and 5 months - She : ~ 20 years and 5 months. 
    Family ID F28109  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Ancestors Wight, Mary
              b. Abt 1767, Maiden Lane, London, , Greater London, England Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 2 Mar 1863, Richmond, , Surrey, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 96 years) 
    Marriage License 8 Nov 1787  [4
    • First name(s) JOHN Last name JOHNSON Licence year 1787 Licence date 08 Nov 1787 New calender date 08 Nov 1787 Bride's first name(s) Mary Bride's last name WIGHT Groom's first name(s) John Groom's last name JOHNSON Place Dioceses of England & Wales Record set Faculty Office Marriage Licences Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers) Subcategory Marriages & divorces Collections from United Kingdom
    Marriage 9 Nov 1787  Battersea, , London, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    • First name(s) Mary
      Last name Wight
      Licence year 1787
      Licence date 08 Nov 1787
      New calender date 08 Nov 1787
      Bride's first name(s) Mary
      Bride's last name WIGHT
      Groom's first name(s) John
      Groom's last name JOHNSON
      Place Dioceses of England & Wales
      Country England & Wales
      Record set Faculty Office Marriage Licences
      Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
      Subcategory Parish Marriages
      Collections from England, United Kingdom, Wales
      Society of Genealogists
      Transcriptions © Society of Genealogists


      First name(s) Mary
      Last name Wight
      Marriage year 1787
      Marriage date 09 Nov 1787
      Marriage place Battersea
      By licence or banns By Licence
      Spouse's first name(s) John
      Spouse's last name Johnson
      Spouse's residence LND St Mary Staining
      Source Parish Register Transcripts
      County Surrey
      Country England
      Record set Surrey Marriages
      Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
      Subcategory Parish Marriages
      Collections from England, United Kingdom
      West Surrey Family History Society
      copyright West Surrey Family History Society
    Age at Marriage He : 22 years and 9 months - She : ~ 20 years and 11 months. 
    Children 9 children  [6, 7
    Family ID F2723  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 27 Mar 2023 

  • Event Map Click to display
    Link to Google MapsChristening - 13 Mar 1765 - St Mary Staining, City of London, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 9 Nov 1787 - Battersea, , London, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, John Percival - 16 Jun 1789 - London, , Greater London, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, Charles - 6 Jul 1790 - City of London, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, Percival Norton - 29 Sep 1792 - City of London, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, Mary Anne - 2 Jun 1794 - London, , Greater London, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, John Frederick - 30 Sep 1798 - City of London, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, Jane - 4 Aug 1804 - Maiden Lane, London, , Greater London, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, Martha - 21 Sep 1805 - Stoke Newington, , Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, George Richard - 14 Jul 1807 - Stoke Newington, , Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Johnson, Arthur Harry - 8 Apr 1809 - St Mark, Kensington, London, , England Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Abt 1831 - Paris, , , France Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Cemetery Church Parish Location Village Town City District County/Shire Province Region State Country Continent Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S356] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch," database, FamilySearch  , ((http://new.familysearch.org)), accessed 27 Mar 2023), entry for John Johnson, person ID MQMC-CST. (Reliability: 3).

    2. [S39] Websites, https:/​/​technology​.matthey​.com/​article/​61/​3/​257-261/​ (Reliability: 3).

    3. [S39] Websites, https:/​/​www​.photomemorabilia​.co​.uk/​Johnsons_​of_​Hendon/​JoH_​History​.html (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S536] Society of Genealogists, Faculty Office Marriage Licences Transcription, (Society of Genealogists Transcriptions © Society of Genealogists) (Reliability: 3).
      First name(s) JOHN Last name JOHNSON Licence year 1787 Licence date 08 Nov 1787 New calender date 08 Nov 1787 Bride's first name(s) Mary Bride's last name WIGHT Groom's first name(s) John Groom's last name JOHNSON Place Dioceses of England & Wales Record set Faculty Office Marriage Licences Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers) Subcategory Marriages & divorces Collections from United Kingdom

    5. [S537] West Surrey Family History Society, Surrey Marriages Transcription, (West Surrey Family History Society copyright West Surrey Family History Society) (Reliability: 3).
      First name(s) John Last name Johnson Residence LND St Mary Staining Marriage year 1787 Marriage date 09 Nov 1787 Marriage place Battersea By licence or banns By Licence Spouse's first name(s) Mary Spouse's last name Wight Source Parish Register Transcripts County Surrey Country England Record set Surrey Marriages Category Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers) Subcategory Marriages & divorces Collections from United Kingdom

    6. [S171] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index(R), (Copyright (c) 1980, 2002), citing microfilm 0094717 (1559 - 1812) for batch P015581, printout call number 0094717, (Film), sheet 00, downloaded 4 Feb 2007 (Reliability: 3).

    7. [S171] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index(R), (Copyright (c) 1980, 2002), citing microfilm 0094717 (1559 - 1812) for batch P015581, sheet 00, downloaded 4 Feb 2007 (Reliability: 3).