William Elliot Johnson

Sir William Elliot Johnson KCMG (10 April 18628 December 1932) was an Australian politician. He was a long-serving member of the House of Representatives (1903–1928) and served non-consecutive terms as Speaker of the House (1913–1914, 1917–1923). He began his career in the Australian Labor Party (ALP) during the early 1890s, but was a member of the anti-Labor parties throughout his tenure in parliament.

Early life Johnson was born at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the son of a scene-painter.

Johnson was an early member of the Labor Electoral League of New South Wales and served as president of its Newtown branch. He was also a contributor to the Labour Defence Journal. At the 1894 general election he was an unsuccessful candidate for the seat of Marrickville. Johnson later left the party on the grounds that it had "turned wrongly towards socialism and state interference". He was subsequently honorary secretary of the Free Trade and Liberal Association of New South Wales.