James Johnson (bishop of Worcester)

For the African minister, see James Johnson (minister).

James Johnson, portrait at Hartlebury Castle.

James Johnson (1705 – 28 November 1774) was an English prelate, successively Bishop of Gloucester (1752–59) and of Worcester (1759–74).

Life

James Johnson was born in Melford, Suffolk, to James Johnson (author and priest) and Anne Cuthbert. His grandfather was George Johnson, a Judge and Councilor of Charles II. He was educated at Westminster School in London and became a King's Scholar before matriculating to Christ Church, Oxford. He became Second Master of Westminster School and held the rectory of Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire.

He became a chaplain to George II and canon residentiary of St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1752 he was consecrated Bishop of Gloucester but was quickly embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of Jacobitism. Christopher Fawcett had gossiped to Lord Ravensworth that Johnson, Andrew Stone and William Murray had drunk to the health of the Pretender in their youth. The allegations were brought all the way to the House of Lords and were subsequently thrown out.

Johnson was translated to the see of Worcester in 1759 and made many alterations to Hartlebury Castle, the residence of the Bishops of Worcestor, out of his own considerable fortune. He was also a patron of Benjamin West, commissioning "The Return of the Prodigal Son". Johnson died in 1774 from a fall from his horse in Stall Street, Bath. There is a monument to him in Worcester Cathedral; he had become a Doctor of Divinity (DD).

References

"Johnson, James (1705-1774)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Martin Benson	Bishop of Gloucester 1752–1759	Succeeded by William Warburton
Preceded by Isaac Maddox	Bishop of Worcester 1759–1774	Succeeded by Brownlow North

Bishops of Gloucester and of Gloucester and Bristol

Gloucester	John Wakeman John Hooper James Brooks Richard Cheyney John Bullingham Godfrey Goldsborough Thomas Ravis Henry Parry Giles Thomson Miles Smith Godfrey Goodman William Nicholson John Pritchett Robert Frampton Edward Fowler Richard Willis Joseph Wilcocks Elias Sydall Martin Benson James Johnson William Warburton The Hon James Yorke Samuel Hallifax Richard Beadon George Huntingford The Hon Henry Ryder Christopher Bethell James Monk (became Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol)

Gloucester and Bristol	James Monk (previously Bishop of Gloucester) Charles Baring William Thomson Charles Ellicott (became Bishop of Gloucester)

Gloucester	Charles Ellicott (previously Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol) Edgar Gibson Arthur Headlam Clifford Woodward Wilfred Askwith Basil Guy John Yates Peter Ball David Bentley Michael Perham Martyn Snow (Acting) Rachel Treweek

Bishops of Worcester

Early Medieval	Bosel Oftfor Egwin of Evesham Wilfrith (I) Milred Waermund Tilhere Heathured Denebeorht Heahbeorht Ealhhun Werferth Æthelhun Wilfrith (II) Koenwald St Dunstan St Oswald Ealdwulf

High Medieval	Wulfstan (I) Leofsige Beorhtheah Lyfing Ælfric Puttoc Lyfing Ealdred St Wulfstan (II) Samson Theulf Simon John de Pageham Alured Roger Baldwin of Forde William of Northall Robert FitzRalph Henry de Sully John of Coutances Mauger Randulf of Evesham Walter de Gray Sylvester William de Blois Walter de Cantilupe Nicholas of Ely Godfrey Giffard

Late Medieval	John St German William Gainsborough Walter Reynolds Walter Maidstone Thomas Cobham Wulstan Bransford Adam Orleton Simon Montacute Thomas Hemenhale Wulstan Bransford John of Thoresby Reginald Brian John Barnet William Whittlesey William Lenn Walter Lyghe Henry Wakefield Robert Tideman of Winchcombe Richard Clifford Thomas Peverel Philip Morgan Thomas Polton Thomas Brunce Thomas Bourchier John Carpenter ("Bishop of Worcester and Westbury") John Alcock Robert Morton Giovanni de' Gigli

Early modern	Silvestro de' Gigli Girolamo Ghinucci Hugh Latimer John Bell Nicholas Heath John Hooper Nicholas Heath Richard Pate Edwin Sandys Nicholas Bullingham John Whitgift Edmund Freke Richard Fletcher Thomas Bilson Gervase Babington Henry Parry John Thornborough John Prideaux George Morley John Gauden John Earle Robert Skinner Walter Blandford James Fleetwood William Thomas Edward Stillingfleet William Lloyd John Hough Isaac Maddox James Johnson Brownlow North Richard Hurd

Late modern	Folliott Cornewall Robert Carr Henry Pepys Henry Philpott John Perowne Charles Gore Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs Ernest Pearce Arthur Perowne William Wilson Cash Mervyn Charles-Edwards Robin Woods Philip Goodrich Peter Selby John Inge

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