Archdeacon Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson (1540 – 1625) was a Church of England cleric and the founder of both Oakham School and Uppingham School.

He was a Puritan rector of North Luffenham, Rutland, for 51 years, from 1574 until his death. He was also a Canon of Windsor (1572 to 1625) and Archdeacon of Leicester (1591 to 1625), and using the income from these and other church posts he held concurrently, he founded free grammar schools in Oakham and Uppingham in 1584, as well as other charitable institutions. He enjoyed the patronage of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.

He was born in Stamford to Maurice and Jane Johnson, one of seven children; his father was Member of Parliament for Stamford. He married three times and had a son, Abraham, by his third wife, Maria (née Hird); through his son he had thirteen grandchildren. His grandson, Isaac Johnson, married Lady Arbella Fiennes, who gave her name to Governor John Winthrop's flagship the Arbella. Three other Grandsons, John Johnson, Thomas Johnson, and Robert Johnson were among the founders of New Haven, Connecticut . Robert Johnson's Great Grandson Samuel Johnson founded King's College, now Columbia University.

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