|
|
Historical Highway MarkersWilliam Ransom Johnson (1782--1849)M-60_1
William R. Johnson lived near here at Oakland. Called the “Napoleon of the Turf,” he was the most prominent figure in American horse racing early in the 19th century. His success depended in part on the labor of enslaved grooms, jockeys, and trainers. Johnson won national fame during the many North-South match races held between the 1820s and 1840s. The best-known of these, American Eclipse vs. Sir Henry in 1823, drew tens of thousands of spectators and was among the first sports events to generate nationwide interest. When Johnson’s Sir Henry lost, some bettors reportedly lost fortunes. Johnson served several terms in the Virginia legislature between 1818 and 1836. He died in Mobile, AL.
Department of Historic Resources, 2022 See a problem? Report it to HighwayMarkers@dhr.virginia.gov. |
DHR could use your help! We don't have a recent image of this marker. If you have one that you'd like to submit for inclusion on this site, please send it to HighwayMarkers@dhr.virginia.gov. |
|
References/Bibliographic Citation: American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine. Vol 3, No 10. 519-522. June 1832 Blanchard, Elizabeth Cameron and Manly Wade Wellman. The Life and Times of Sir Archie. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1958). Collins, Carvel. The American Sporting Gallery. (Cambridge, 1949). Edgar, Patrick Nisbitt. The American Race-Turf Register. Sportsman’s Register and General Stud Book. (New York: Press of Henry Mason, 1833). Eisenberg, John. The Great Match Race: When North Met South In America’s Sports Spectacle. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co, 2006). Harper’s Monthly Magazine, Vol. LXIX October 1884, pp. 730- 38. Hervey, John. Racing in America 1665-1865. (New York: The Jockey Club, 1944). Pp. 77-88. |