[1][2] He was born 17 December 1834, youngest son of Colonel John Johnson of Walbury, Great Hallingbury.[3] Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge,[4] from 1856 to 1858 he was a cornet in the Royal Dragoons after which he studied for ordination at Wells Theological College.Following curacies at Richmond, Surrey and Sawbridgeworth, he was the first vicar of High Wych and then rector of Chelmsford.[5] After this he was Archdeacon of Essex,[6] before being appointed Bishop of Colchester in 1895.In December 1901 he was appointed honorary chaplain to the Essex Imperial Yeomanry.