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Sir William Johnson: His Life and Work Among the Six Nations

William Powell

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Published in Chief George H M Johnson Onwanonsyshon: His Life And Work Among The Six Nations

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Sir William Johnson (1715-1774) was a British soldier, diplomat, and Indian agent who played a key role in the history of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, and came to America in 1738. He quickly became involved in the fur trade and Indian affairs, and in 1755 he was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for the northern colonies.

Chief George H. M. Johnson, Onwanonsyshon: His Life and Work Among the Six Nations

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Johnson's main responsibility was to maintain peace between the Six Nations and the British colonists. He was successful in this endeavor, and he also played a key role in the British victory in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). After the war, Johnson was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for all of the British colonies in North America.

Johnson's work with the Six Nations was based on a deep understanding of their culture and traditions. He respected the Iroquois Confederacy as a sovereign nation, and he worked to protect their rights and interests. He also promoted economic development and education among the Iroquois, and he helped to establish several schools and churches on their reservations.

Johnson's work with the Six Nations was not without its critics. Some colonists accused him of being too lenient with the Indians, and others accused him of being too ambitious. However, there is no doubt that Johnson was a skilled diplomat and a dedicated advocate for the Six Nations. He played a key role in shaping the history of the Iroquois Confederacy, and he left a lasting legacy of peace and cooperation between the Iroquois and the British colonists.

Early Life and Career

William Johnson was born in County Meath, Ireland, on November 11, 1715. His father, Christopher Johnson, was a successful attorney, and his mother, Anne Warren, was the daughter of a wealthy Irish landowner. Johnson received a good education, and he studied law at Trinity College Dublin.

In 1738, Johnson emigrated to America. He settled in the Mohawk Valley of New York, where he became involved in the fur trade. He quickly became a successful trader, and he soon gained the respect of the local Iroquois chiefs.

In 1746, Johnson was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for the province of New York. In this role, he was responsible for maintaining peace between the Iroquois and the British colonists. Johnson was successful in this endeavor, and he also played a key role in the British victory in the French and Indian War.

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a conflict between the British and French empires for control of North America. The war began in the Ohio Valley, where the British were trying to build forts on land that the French claimed. The Iroquois Confederacy was divided on which side to support in the war, but Johnson was able to persuade most of the Iroquois to side with the British.

Johnson played a key role in the British victory in the French and Indian War. He led several successful military campaigns against the French, and he also helped to negotiate a peace treaty that ended the war.

Superintendent of Indian Affairs

After the French and Indian War, Johnson was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for all of the British colonies in North America. In this role, he was responsible for negotiating treaties with the Indians, maintaining peace between the Indians and the colonists, and promoting economic development and education among the Indians.

Johnson was a skilled diplomat and a dedicated advocate for the Indians. He played a key role in shaping the history of the Iroquois Confederacy, and he left a lasting legacy of peace and cooperation between the Iroquois and the British colonists.

Legacy

Sir William Johnson died on July 11, 1774, at the age of 58. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Peter's Church in Johnstown, New York. Johnson's legacy is a complex one. He was a skilled diplomat and a dedicated advocate for the Indians, but he was also a slave owner and a profiteer from the fur trade.

Despite his flaws, Johnson played a key role in the history of the Iroquois Confederacy. He helped to maintain peace between the Iroquois and the British colonists, and he promoted economic development and education among the Iroquois. Johnson's legacy is a lasting one, and he is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of the American frontier.