James Leeper Johnson

American politician

James Leeper Johnson

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851
Preceded by	Beverly L. Clarke
Succeeded by	Benjamin E. Grey

Personal details
Born	(1818-10-30)October 30, 1818 Smithland, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	February 12, 1926(1926-02-12) (aged 107) Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.

James Leeper Johnson (October 30, 1818 – February 12, 1877) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.

Born near Smithland, Kentucky, Johnson attended private schools. He moved to Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1836. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Owensboro. He owned slaves.^[1] He served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1844.

Johnson was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851). He was nominated for reelection in 1850 but declined to accept. He resumed the practice of law in Owensboro and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was appointed judge of the Daviess County circuit court on May 4, 1867, and served until September 2 of that year. He died in Owensboro, Kentucky, on February 12, 1877. He was interred in Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery.

References

United States Congress. "James Leeper Johnson (id: J000147)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

^ "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, 2022-01-13, retrieved 2022-07-06

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Beverly L. Clarke	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851	Succeeded by Benjamin E. Grey