Samuel Johnson (clergyman)

Samuel Johnson (1691-1773) was an American clergyman and educator, often referred to as the first president of King's College (now Columbia University). Born in Guilford, Connecticut, he graduated from the Collegiate School (later Yale University) in 1714. Initially a Congregationalist minister, Johnson embraced Anglicanism, traveling to England for ordination in 1723.

Upon his return to America, he served as a missionary for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) in Stratford, Connecticut, for over thirty years. During this time, he developed a reputation as a learned theologian and philosopher.

In 1754, Johnson was appointed the first president of King's College in New York City. He played a significant role in shaping the college's curriculum and establishing its academic foundation, emphasizing classical learning and religious instruction. He resigned his position in 1763 due to health concerns and returned to Stratford, where he continued to preach and write until his death.

Johnson's philosophical writings reflected his commitment to Berkeleyan idealism. He corresponded with George Berkeley himself, and his philosophical ideas influenced intellectual discourse in colonial America. He is considered a significant figure in the history of American philosophy and education.