In 1819, made and sold Britain's first bicycle in its hobby-horse form. As a coachmaker Johnson was able to make significant improvements to the two-wheel velocipede, as invented by von Drais. He obtained a patent for his "pedestrian curricle", manufactured them and opened a school teaching people how to ride them. They became a bit of a craze with even the Prince Regent riding them.
Died at home and was buried at St Martin's Chapel, Camden Town.
See also John Kemp Starley,
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Denis Johnson
City of Westminster Denis Johnson (c.1760 - 1833) from his workshop on this ...
Director of the Brilliant Sign Company in 1938.
Shop-keeper. Born Egypt. Arrived in London in the 70s and added the aristocratic "al" prefix to his name. He owned Harrods, the Paris Ritz and Fulham Football Club. The drunk chauffeur of the ca...
Theatre impresario. Born Greek Street. Suggested that Sullivan should work on Gilbert's "Trial by Jury" and staged the first performance in 1875. In 1879 D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company was formed and...
Born Islington into the stationery family. Trustee of Islington Union Chapel. MP for Islington South. 1885-6. Henry Spicer was the eldest of the ten children of Henry S. J. Spicer (1801-1877) a...
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