Thomas Johnson (Australian politician)
Thomas Johnson (21 December 1819 – 3 November 1894) was a politician in the British colony of South Australia. Early life. He was born in Thirsk, Yorkshire, and served an apprenticeship as a currier, then acted as a leather merchant in Bermondsey, London. He emigrated to South Australia on the Dutch ship "Fopsmit", arriving in August 1853; fellow passengers were W. H. Sharland (1828 – 29 July 1911), Joseph Grundy and William Townsend. Commercial interests. Johnson and Townsend opened a boot and shoe shop in Rundle Street, then a retail premises in King William Street next to the  Gresham Hotel, with his "Pantheon" boot and shoe factory opposite. He later moved to premises on North Terrace. In 1883 he sold the business to Corris, Craig & Co. and retired from commercial life. Politics. Johnson was elected to the Adelaide Council for the Gawler ward 1874–1875. He was member of the South Australian House of Assembly for West Adelaide from February 1875 to April 1878 with colleagues W. K. Simms then J. Darling and for East Adelaide from June 1881, following the resignation due to illness of Freetrader G. S. Fowler, and sat until April 1884. He was a prominent  protectionist. Other interests. Johnson was a member of the City Rifles, South Australia's first volunteer corps. Later life. Johnson died at his home in Washington Street, Glenelg after a bout of influenza. Family. He married Elizabeth (c. 1826 – 27 December 1895) in England before emigration to Australia; their family included: They lived on Avenue Road, North Adelaide, then from around 1890 at Palmer Place, North Adelaide.