John Mercer Johnson is best known as Northumberland County’s “Father of Confederation.” He was one of a group of 36 men who wanted to make New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario into one country—Canada.
John Mercer Johnson was born in England in 1818. The Johnson family moved to Chatham in 1819. Their father quickly became important in Chatham business. Young Johnson went to the Chatham Grammar School and became a lawyer by 1840. It was then that he married Henrietta Shirreff. The Shirreffs were an important Chatham family at that time. The Johnsons built a home where St. Michael’s Church parking lot is now found. The house was torn down in the 1920’s.
By 1847 Johnson opened a law office with Peter Mitchell of Newcastle. Mitchell would later become Northumberland County’s other “Father of Confederation.” Both Mitchell and Johnson were supporters of the Liberal Party. Both soon became active in New Brunswick politics.
By 1850, John Johnson was elected to the New Brunswick Legislature. He was only 32 years old. He held this seat until 1865. In that year he lost his riding, but was re-elected in 1866. He represented New Brunswick at the Charlottetown Conference (1864) the Quebec Conference (1865) and the London Conference (1866). These three meetings were held to unite New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario into the country of Canada. Johnson was elected to the first House of Commons in Ottawa in 1867.
John Mercer Johnson died only fourteen months after being elected. He was just fifty years old. His grave is found in St. Paul’s Churchyard, Bushville. Bushville is about four miles above Chatham. In 1927 a plaque was put in St. Paul’s Church. The plaque was put there to honor Mr. Johnson. Another plaque was placed in the Chatham Post Office in 1941 to honor him. This plaque can now be seen on the outside corner of the new Chatham Post office. This building was opened in 1956 and is at the corner of Henderson and Duke Streets. The plaque was given to the town by the Historic Sites Board of Canada. Johnson Street in Chatham is also named after this great Canadian. John Mercer Johnson is a fine example of the kind of people Miramichiers were and still are today.