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Johnson was born in Stratford, Connecticut, to Samuel and Charity Floyd Nicholl on October 7, 1727.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RBt3CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT62 Connecticut Families of the Revolution: American Forebears from Burr to Wolcott]</ref>  As a child, he was [[homeschooled]], receiving private tutoring from his father, [[Samuel Johnson (American educator)|Samuel Johnson]].  He attended both [[Yale]] and [[Harvard]], graduating from the former in 1744 and the latter in 1747.  Following graduation, he pursued a course of study in law, and entered practice in Stratford.<ref name="bioguide.congress.gov">http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000182</ref>  In 1749, he married Anne Beach.<ref>[http://supreme.findlaw.com/documents/fathers/connecticut.html William Samuel Johnson (1727-1819)]</ref>

Johnson was born in Stratford, Connecticut, to Samuel and Charity Floyd Nicholl on October 7, 1727.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RBt3CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT62 Connecticut Families of the Revolution: American Forebears from Burr to Wolcott]</ref>  As a child, he was [[homeschooled]], receiving private tutoring from his father, [[Samuel Johnson (American educator)|Samuel Johnson]].  He attended both [[Yale]] and [[Harvard]], graduating from the former in 1744 and the latter in 1747.  Following graduation, he pursued a course of study in law, and entered practice in Stratford.<ref name="bioguide.congress.gov">http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000182</ref>  In 1749, he married Anne Beach.<ref>[http://supreme.findlaw.com/documents/fathers/connecticut.html William Samuel Johnson (1727-1819)]</ref>

Johnson spent over 20 years commissioned as a member of the Connecticut colonial militia.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Soldier_statesmen_of_the_Constitution/QpZTKmK1FzkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA161 Soldier-statesmen of the Constitution]</ref>

Johnson spent over 20 years commissioned as a member of the Connecticut colonial militia.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Soldier_statesmen_of_the_Constitution/QpZTKmK1FzkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA161 Soldier-statesmen of the Constitution]</ref>

==Continental Congress==

Sympathetic to the patriot cause, Johnson was elected to the [[Stamp Act Congress]], representing Connecticut.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/William_Samuel_Johnson_and_the_Making_of/tTQEAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA3 William Samuel Johnson and the Making of the Constitution]</ref>  However, he rejected his election to the [[First Continental Congress]] due to a desire to avoid extreme measures and reach a compromise with [[Britain]].  This decision provoked strong Patriot criticism and resulted in the loss of his militia command.  Later, however, Johnson wholeheartedly embraced the cause of independence, recognizing that compromise was not a viable option.  He served in the Continental Congress from 1785-1787, and enjoyed great popularity and influence with the other delegates.<ref name=armyhistory>http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/johnson.htm</ref>

Johnson rejected his election to the First Continental Congress due to a desire to avoid extreme measures and reach a compromise with [[Britain]].  This decision provoked strong Patriot criticism and resulted in the loss of his militia command.  Later, however, Johnson wholeheartedly embraced the cause of independence, recognizing that compromise was not a viable option.  He served in the Continental Congress from 1785-1787, and enjoyed great popularity and influence with the other delegates.<ref name=armyhistory>http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/johnson.htm</ref>

==Constitutional Convention==

===Constitutional Convention===

Johnson represented [[Connecticut]] at the [[Constitutional Convention]] of 1787.  He played a major role there, arguing powerfully and eloquently for a strong federal government and for equal representation for all states.  Towards this end, he was a strong supporter of the [[New Jersey Plan]], and later the [[Connecticut Compromise]].<ref name=armyhistory />

Johnson represented [[Connecticut]] at the [[Constitutional Convention]] of 1787.  He played a major role there, arguing powerfully and eloquently for a strong federal government and for equal representation for all states.  Towards this end, he was a strong supporter of the [[New Jersey Plan]], and later the [[Connecticut Compromise]].<ref name=armyhistory />