Johnson was born in
Fryeburg, Maine in 1828. From 1847 to 1848, Johnson served aboard the ship-of-the-line in the
Pacific Squadron. After classroom instruction on shore, he served aboard the frigate in the
Brazil Squadron from 1850 to 1851. Johnson then returned to the
United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1852. He was promoted to passed midshipman on 8 June 1852. From April 1864 to February 1866, Johnson was assigned to the Naval Academy and given command of the training ship , first at
Newport, Rhode Island and then returning to
Annapolis, Maryland after the end of the Civil War. In October 1884, he assumed command of the
Portsmouth Navy Yard. Selected to command the Pacific Squadron, Johnson died in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire on the morning of 28 January 1887, only a few hours before his scheduled promotion to rear admiral. As a result,
Lewis A. Kimberly was promoted instead, replacing
Edward Y. McCauley as squadron commander. The cause of his death was
Bright's disease resulting from a
contusion which occurred during the course of his duties at the navy yard. ==Personal==