James Johnson (author and cleric)

Rev. James Johnson (1674 – 1740) was an English author and cleric.

Born at Bowden Park, Wiltshire, the son of George Johnson, Counsellor of Charles II, Johnson took his B.A. at Hertford College, Oxford before taking his Master of Arts at Oriel College, Oxford in 1698. In 1701, he was presented by Sir John Cordell (3rd bart.) as rector of Long Melford where he remained until his death.

He married Anne Cuthbert, daughter of Thomas Cuthbert, of Wickford, Essex, and St. Andrew's, Holborn.

Johnson wrote The Great Duty, a meditation on ‘the golden rule’ in 1723. His son, James Johnson, became Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester.

The Rev. James Johnson died at Long Melford in 1740.