The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Ralph Johnson (1629 - 1695)

Educator, clergyman (vicar at Brignall), and naturalist. Mentored him in botany by Walter Stonehouse and James Petiver, and "many of the plants in his herbarium came from the Tradescants' famous garden in south Lambeth" (ODNB). Described by Willughby in his preface to his Ornithology as "a Person of singular skill in Zoology, especially the History of Birds, who be­sides the Descriptions and Pictures of divers uncommon, and some unde­scribed both Land and Water-fowl, communicated to us his Method of Birds, whereby we were in some particulars informed, in many others confirmed, his judgment concurring with ours in the divisions and Characteristic notes of the Genera." He "went up to St. John's College as a sizar in 1648 from Sedbergh School: he was born at Newsham, a farmer's son, and kept a successful school at Brignall" (Raven, 319, n. 1). Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/47842 Authority - early modern
 Relevant locations: Educated at St John's College (Cambridge), Cambridge University
Lived at or near Brignall, North Yorkshire
 Relationships: Ralph Johnson was a friend of John Ray (1627-1705)
Ralph Johnson was a friend of Walter Stonehouse (c. 1597-17 Jul 1655)
Ralph Johnson was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John, the Elder Tradescant (c.1570s-c.15 Apr 1638)
Ralph Johnson was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Tradescanti (-)
Ralph Johnson was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Tradescant, the Younger (4 Aug 1608 [bap.]-22 Apr 1662)
Ralph Johnson was a friend of Francis Willughby (22 Nov 1635-03 Jul 1672)

 Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - John Ray, Naturalist: His Life and Works.
 References in Documents:
Excerpts from Ornithology (1876) related to Sir Thomas Browne's and the Tradescants' collections And Mr. Ralph Johnson of Brignal near Greta Bridge in Yorkshire, a Person of singular skill in Zoology, especially the History of Birds, who besides the Descriptions and Pictures of divers uncommon, and some undescribed both Land and Water-fowl, communicated to us his Method of Birds, whereby we were in some particulars informed, in many others confirmed, his judgment concurring with ours in the divisions and Characteristic notes of the Genera.
Excerpts from Ornithology (1876) related to Sir Thomas Browne's and the Tradescants' collections

This Bird hath not as yet been described by any Author extant in Print that we know of. It abides constantly at Sea, gets itsliving by diving, and is taken in Nets placed under water. In the wash in Lincolnshire it is found plentifully. Its Case stuft was sent us first by Mr. Fr. Jessop out of Yorkshire: Next we got it at Chester, as we have said: Then Sir Thomas Brown sent us a Picture of it from Norwich; and last­ly, Mr. Johnson sent a description of it in his method of Birds, in which description are some particulars not observed by us, viz. that the Male hath on the upper side some tincture of shining green, and that in the Hen the Neck and Head on both sides, as far as the Eyes, is white.