Philip C. Johnson, Jr.

Philip Carrigan Johnson Jr. (21 November 1828 – 28 January 1887) was a United States Navy officer. He served during the Mexican–American War and commanded two ships in combat during the American Civil War. After the war, he commanded the coastal survey ship Hassler from 1871 to 1872 during an expedition to the Strait of Magellan and both southern coasts of South America accompanied by natural historian Louis Agassiz.

Biography Johnson was born in Fryeburg, Maine in 1828.

From 1847 to 1848, Johnson served aboard the ship-of-the-line in the Pacific Squadron. After classroom instruction on shore, he served aboard the frigate in the Brazil Squadron from 1850 to 1851. Johnson then returned to the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1852. He was promoted to passed midshipman on 8 June 1852.

From April 1864 to February 1866, Johnson was assigned to the Naval Academy and given command of the training ship , first at Newport, Rhode Island and then returning to Annapolis, Maryland after the end of the Civil War. In October 1884, he assumed command of the Portsmouth Navy Yard.

Selected to command the Pacific Squadron, Johnson died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on the morning of 28 January 1887, only a few hours before his scheduled promotion to rear admiral. As a result, Lewis A. Kimberly was promoted instead, replacing Edward Y. McCauley as squadron commander. The cause of his death was Bright's disease resulting from a contusion which occurred during the course of his duties at the navy yard.

Personal Johnson was the son of Philip Carrigan Johnson and Mary Kimball (Chandler) Johnson. His father was a businessman who was appointed Secretary of State of Maine by Governor John Fairfield and then served in the civilian leadership of the Navy Department during the Polk administration. Philip Johnson Jr. had five sisters and two older brothers, one of whom was painter Eastman Johnson. Naval officer Alfred Wilkinson Johnson, who retired from active duty as a vice admiral, was their son.

Johnson and his wife are buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.