John Johnson
Doctor of Divinity 1891
The Rev. John Johnson, honored with a Doctor of Divinity in 1891, achieved the rank of Major in the Confederate Army. An academically trained civil engineer, he joined the Confederate Army’s engineering corps and was promoted twice for his work at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. He masterminded the repair and reinforcement of its fortifications during the U.S. Navy’s steady bombardment in 1863 and 1864. Before secession, Johnson had begun studying for the Episcopal ministry. After the Confederate surrender, he returned to the church, first in Camden, S.C., and later at the historic St. Philip’s Episcopal in Charleston, where he served as rector for 34 years.