Quick Facts
- Baptized:
- May 24, 1573, London, Eng.
- Died:
- 1659?
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Richard Johnson
English author
Richard Johnson (baptized May 24, 1573, London, Eng.—died 1659?) was an English author of popular romances, notably The Most Famous History of the Seaven Champions of Christendome (vol 1., 1596; vol. 2, 1597), which was so successful that one or two further parts were added later. The work includes a number of unacknowledged quotations from William Shakespeare.
Almost nothing is known of Johnson’s life, though in his Nine Worthies of London (1592) he referred to himself as an apprentice. He may have been employed in the household of Queen Anne, wife of King James I. Among his many other works is a book of ballads, The Crowne Garland of Golden Roses (1612).
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.