Sir William Johnson, ca. 1760
Artist: Unknown 246
Medium: watercolour in ivory
Dimensions: 4 * 3.5 cm (oval encasement)

Sir William Johnson (ca. 1715-1774) came to North America in 1738 and settled on large land holdings near present-day Albany, New York. He acted as an agent for the British Crown in its dealings with the Six Nations Iroquois. His close relationship with the native leaders made him an effective negotiator and rallied many of them to the British side against the French during both the War of Austrian Succession (1739-1748) and the Seven Years' War (1766-1763). During peacetime, he tried to negotiate protection for native lands, with only limited success. He was called Warrayghijagey (he who does much) by the Iroquois and had several children with Koñwatsi'tsiaiéñni (Molly Brant), the sister of Mohawk leader Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant).

National Archives of Canada, negative no. C-083497