Johnson, Richard (1753-1827), was the first clergyman in Australia. He arrived as army chaplain with the First Fleet in 1788. Soon after his arrival in Sydney, Johnson quarreled with Arthur Phillip, the governor of the colony. Johnson wanted to build a church, but Phillip did not think that the new colony urgently needed one. Johnson then set about building one at his own expense. He completed it and held the first service in it in August 1793. But the church was destroyed by fire in October 1798.
Johnson was born in Welton, near Hull, England. From 1788 until the arrival of Samuel Marsden in 1793, he was the only clergyman in Australia. Johnson founded the first schools in Australia.
