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 ...
Created the Royal Exchange in 1566 where the Gresham family crest, a grasshopper, can be seen. Son of Richard Gresham who was a Lord Mayor of London but Thomas never was.
1292 - first reference to ‘Free Fruiterers’. First charter in 1606. Their shield shows Adam and Eve with that first piece of fruit.
Inventor and industrialist, who sold the first recognizably modern bicycle. Starley went into business with William Sutton, with the intention of producing bicycles that were safe and easy to use. ...
The first general post office in London opened in 1643, after King Charles I legalised use of the royal posts for private correspondence. It was possibly located on Cloak Lane near Dowgate Hill, in...
The Ivy, opened by Abele Giandolini, as an unlicensed Italian cafe in 1917 in a building on the same site. Famous as a theatrical-celebrities haunt, possibly due to its late closing time of near-mi...
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