William Johnson

William Johnson (born 1866) was a British trade unionist and socialist activist.

Born in Bingley, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Johnson worked on a farm until 1882, when he emigrated to the United States. He undertook various jobs there, and joined the Knights of Labour during a lock out. He became increasingly active in the union, serving as a representative for worsted mill workers.

In 1888, Johnson returned to the UK, becoming a shop assistant, and in 1889 he joined the East London Shop Assistants Union. He became its honorary secretary the following year, and took it into a merger which formed the National Union of Shop Assistants in 1891, becoming its full-time general secretary. While leader, he launched a journal, Shop Life Reform. He was also a supporter of The Clarion, and was one of seven people present at a meeting at its office in 1892, when it was proposed that an independent labour party be formed. In 1893, this was established as the Independent Labour Party; Johnson served as secretary to the standing orders committee at is founding conference, and served on its first National Administrative Committee.

Later in 1893, Johnson moved to London. The following year, he resigned his trade union post to become secretary of the Democratic Club, in succession to Shaw Maxwell.