Richard M.
Johnson, was Vice President for four years, but he is best remembered for his liberal attitude on interracial marriage, which was not considered socially acceptable in either the South or the North when he was elected in 1836.
He was Born in Beargrass (now Louisville) Kentucky in 1781. He graduated from Transylvania University school of law and passed the state bar in 1802.
He was elected to the state legislature in 1804, and then the US House in 1807.
He was a strong supporter of the War of 1812 and organized the Kentucky Rifleman. His heroic fighting in support of General William Henry Harrison at the Battle of Thames advanced his political career. It is reported that he killed an Indian chief, possibly Tecumseh, and was wounded in the fight.
He returned to Congress and continued serving until his election to the US Senate in 1819. After serving in the Senate he returned to the House where he served from 1829 until his election to the Vice Presidency in 1837. As a member of Congress Richard Johnson had opposed imprisoning debtors, argued against no mail delivery on Sunday as a violation of separation of church and state, and supported the establishment of educational
facilities for the native American Indians.
During the election of 1836 Van Buren's opponents reminded voters that Richard M.
Johnson's late wife was a Mulatto. Johnson pointed out that it was not uncommon for plantation owners to have relations with their Negro servants, the only difference was that he had chosen to marry his wife in holy matrimony under the eyes of God. As Vice President he upset the social norms when he tried to introduce his daughter in to "polite society" despite her Negro heritage.
After leaving the vice presidency he lived quietly until his death in 1850.
Was Richard M. Johnson a brave man ahead of his time? Openly admitting to marrying a woman who was part Black and proudly trying to make his daughter a part of society despite deep racial
prejudice in both the North and the South, and arguing in favor of education for Indian children at a time when many Americans considered the
pre-Columbian natives to be nothing more than dangerous savages.
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