The subject was born in Brooklyn, the son of Barent Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Dutch descent, and of Maria (Guest) Johnson. In 1796 Johnson was ordained in the Reformed Dutch Church, in which year he accepted a position as pastor at the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Albany. He was invited to preach the funeral oration in honor of George Washington before the New York State Legislature on February 22, 1800. His portrait was a gift to the Society from his great-granddaughter.