Joseph F. Johnston | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator fromAlabama | |
| In office August 6, 1907 – August 8, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Edmund Pettus |
| Succeeded by | Francis S. White |
| 30thGovernor of Alabama | |
| In office December 1, 1896 – December 1, 1900 | |
| Preceded by | William C. Oates |
| Succeeded by | William J. Samford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1843-03-23)March 23, 1843 |
| Died | August 8, 1913(1913-08-08) (aged 70) Washington, D.C., US |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |  12th North Carolina Infantry[1] |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Joseph Forney Johnston (March 23, 1843 – August 8, 1913) was an AmericanDemocratic politician and businessman who was the30th governor of Alabama from 1896 to 1900. He later served in theUnited States Senate from August 6, 1907, to his death on August 8, 1913. As a senator, he was chair of theU.S. Senate Committee to Establish a University of the United States.
Born inLincoln County, North Carolina, on March 23, 1843, Johnston attended the rural public schools in North Carolina during his youth. Johnston moved toTalladega, Alabama, at the age of seventeen and attended amilitary academy. At the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War, Johnston enlisted as a private in theConfederate States Army. Johnston served through the duration of the war, receiving wounds atChickamauga,Spotsylvania,New Market, andPetersburg. By the war's end, he attained the rank of captain.[2]
After returning from the war, Johnston studied law underWilliam H. Forney and was admitted to the bar. He practiced law inSelma, Alabama, eventually moving toBirmingham to become president of the Alabama National Bank. In 1887, Johnston became president of the Sloss Iron & Steel company, an industry thriving in Alabama.[2]
Johnston first entered the political arena in 1890, when he ran for Alabama governor but lost toThomas G. Jones. In 1896, he again ran for governor. He succeeded, serving two consecutive two-year terms asGovernor of Alabama.[2] Johnston's achievements during his tenure as governor include tax reform, creation of theAlabama Department of Insurance, and the establishment of a state mine inspector.
Johnston decided not to seek another term as governor in 1900 and challengedJohn Tyler Morgan in that year's Senate election. Morgan defeated Johnston, and in 1902, Johnston sought a third term as governor against incumbentWilliam D. Jelks. The revelation of several scandals involving Sloss Iron & Steel and misconduct in the prison system hurt Johnston, and he would ultimately lose the election.
However, Johnston attained political office again by being elected to complete SenatorEdmund Pettus's term after Pettus had died in office in 1907. Johnston was re-elected in 1909 and served in the Senate until his death from pneumonia in 1913.[2]
Johnston was married to Theresa Virginia Hooper of South Carolina. They had three children, including Birmingham attorney and civic leader Forney Johnston.[1] He is buried in Birmingham'sElmwood Cemetery.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Alabama 1896,1898 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Alabama 1896–1900 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator from Alabama 1907–1913 | Succeeded by |
| Class 2 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
Chairs of theUnited States Senate Committee on Armed Services | ||
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| Military Affairs Committee (1816–1947) | | |
| Naval Affairs Committee (1816–1947) | ||
| Armed Services Committee (1947–present) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
