Johnson, William

1. Dates

Born: location unknown, England, c.1610

Died: London, 1665

Dateinfo: Birth Uncertain

Lifespan: 55

2. Father

Occupation: Gentry

The case is not clear, but it appears that he came from a family of gentry.

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: English

Career: English

Death: English

4. Education

Schooling: No University

No records of education. Since there are no records, I will leave it this way; however, there is good reason to believe that Johnson was a member of the clergy before the Commonwealth, and this would probably have meant university education.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Anglican

The fact that he left the clergy upon the outcome of the Civil War strongly suggests that he was Anglican.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Iatrochemistry, Pharmacology

Johnson was considered an iatrochemist, though he was at odds with other English iatrochemists. He published Three Exact Pieces of Leonard Piorovant, 1652, and in that same year Lexicon chemicum, drawn from Ruland, Basil Valentine, and Van Helmont. Though an iatrochemist, as an employee of the College of Physicians he wrote a defense of Galenic pharmacology (Some Brief Animadversions, 1665) against the attack of George Thomson.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Personal Means, Apothecary

Secondary: Church Life, Scientific Society

He is said to have inherited wealth from his gentry family.

He was an apothecary, doing business from the premises of the College of Physicians.

He became the Operator of the College of Physicians, at least by 1651, preparing chemical medicines and ingredients as samples and for sale, and instructing fellows in their preparation. He remained in this post until his death.

In a publication of 1652, Johnson seemed to state clearly that for eight or nine years he was a member of the clergy. Apparently, when the outcome of the Civil War disrupted the church, he turned to pharmacology and chemistry.

8. Patronage

Type: Physician

Johnson dedicated his Lexicon to Francis Prujean and other fellows of the College of Physicians.

For Some Brief Animadversions, 1665, the College voted him a gratuity of £100.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Pharmacology

10. Scientific Societies

Membership: Society of Apoth

Society of Apothecaries, 1654-65.

Sources

1. G.N. Clark, History of the Royal College of Physicians, (London, 1964). Patricia P. McLachlan, Scientific Professionals in the 17th Century, Ph.D. thesis, Yale University, 1968, pp. 61-83.
2. Cecil Wall, A History of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, p.335.

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.