This week in Christian history: Samuel Johnson dies, Isabella Thoburn arrives in India and Pope Innocent III elected

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, January 04, 2026

Samuel Johnson dies — Jan. 6, 1772

Samuel Johnson (1696-1772), a prominent Anglican Church clergyman in British colonial America who became the first president of what is now called Columbia University. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of the death of Samuel Johnson, a prominent colonial American clergyman, educator and the first president of what became Columbia University, at age 75.

A native of Guildford, Connecticut, Johnson was ordained a minister in the Anglican Church and helped support missionary activity, especially through the Society for Propagating the Gospel.

Johnson was active in promoting education, serving as the first president of what was then called King’s College, later renamed Columbia University after the American Revolution.

“… in addition to working to convert Native Americans, several of whom attended his Stratford church, Johnson also strove to convert Anglo-American Congregationalists to Episcopalian worship,” noted Dartmouth Libraries.

“Johnson was an eminent scholar. He published extensively in the field of moral philosophy and also wrote a catechism and English and Hebrew grammars.”