Robert Gibbon Johnson (July 23, 1771 – October 2, 1850), also known as Colonel Johnson, was an American gentleman farmer, historian, horticulturalist, judge, soldier, and statesman who lived in Salem, New Jersey. He is especially renowned for the probably-apocryphal story that he publicly ate a basket of tomatoes at the Old Salem County Courthouse in 1820 to demonstrate that they were not poisonous like many other nightshades, as was supposedly-commonly thought at the time (tomatoes being primarily decorative plants to Westerners up to then). He was a keen antiquarian and wrote a history of Salem – An Historical Account of the First Settlement of Salem, in West Jersey – published by Orrin Rogers in 1839.
Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proves tomatoes are not poisonous by eating a tomato on the steps of a courthouse in Salem
Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proves tomatoes are not poisonous by eating a tomato on the steps of a courthouse in Salem, New Jersey
Historical Significance
Robert Gibbon Johnson (July 23, 1771 – October 2, 1850), also known as Colonel Johnson, was an American gentleman farmer, historian, horticulturalist, judge, soldier, and statesman who lived in Salem, New Jersey.
Events Before
British colonial officer Stamford Raffles lands in Singapore
British colonial officer Stamford Raffles lands in Singapore
Stamford Raffles founds Singapore as a British trading post
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (5 July 1781 – 5 July 1826) was a British colonial official who served as the governor of the Dutch East Indies between 1811 and 1816 and lieutenant-governor of…
Godert van der Capellen, becomes Governor-General of Dutch East Indies
Godert Alexander Gerard Philip, Baron van der Capellen (Utrecht, 15 December 1778 – De Bilt, 10 April 1848) was a Dutch statesman.
The Adams–Onís Treaty between Spain and the United States is signed, ceding Florida to the US and defining the boundary
The Adams–Onís Treaty between Spain and the United States is signed, ceding Florida to the US and defining the boundary between the US and New Spain
Territory of Arkansas organized
The Arkansas Territory was a territory of the United States from July 4, 1819, to June 15, 1836, when the final extent of Arkansas Territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas.
Events After
Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero agree to the Plan of Iguala, stating that Mexico will become a constitutional m
Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero agree to the Plan of Iguala, stating that Mexico will become a constitutional monarchy, Roman Catholicism the official religion, and both Peninsulares and Creoles will enjoy equal political and social rights
King of Sennar, Badi VII, surrenders his throne and realm to General Ismail Pasha of the Ottoman Empire, bringing the 30
King of Sennar, Badi VII, surrenders his throne and realm to General Ismail Pasha of the Ottoman Empire, bringing the 300-year-old Sudanese kingdom to an end
Russian Antarctic expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen returns to Kronstadt after being the first to cir
Russian Antarctic expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen returns to Kronstadt after being the first to circumnavigate Antarctica
Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua declare their indepen
Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire
Fall of Tripolitsa: Greek forces massacre 6,000 to 15,000 Muslim and Jewish civilians during the Greek War of Independen
Fall of Tripolitsa: Greek forces massacre 6,000 to 15,000 Muslim and Jewish civilians during the Greek War of Independence
More from the 1820s
Godert van der Capellen resigns as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
Godert van der Capellen resigns as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
The Dutch Trading Company (NHM) is granted a monopoly on the sale of opium in Java and Madura
The Dutch Trading Company (NHM) is granted a monopoly on the sale of opium in Java and Madura
Naturalist and entomologist Thomas Say (39) secretly weds natural science illustrator Lucy Way Sistare (26)
Naturalist and entomologist Thomas Say (39) secretly weds natural science illustrator Lucy Way Sistare (26)
American religious leader Joseph Smith Jr (21) weds future church group movement leader Emma Hale (22) in South Bainbrid
American religious leader Joseph Smith Jr (21) weds future church group movement leader Emma Hale (22) in South Bainbridge, New York, until his death in 1844
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on June 28, 1820?
- Robert Gibbon Johnson (July 23, 1771 – October 2, 1850), also known as Colonel Johnson, was an American gentleman farmer, historian, horticulturalist, judge, soldier, and statesman who lived in Salem, New Jersey. He is especially renowned for the probably-apocryphal story that he publicly ate a basket of tomatoes at the Old Salem County Courthouse in 1820 to demonstrate that they were not poisonous like many other nightshades, as was supposedly-commonly thought at the time (tomatoes being primarily decorative plants to Westerners up to then). He was a keen antiquarian and wrote a history of Salem – An Historical Account of the First Settlement of Salem, in West Jersey – published by Orrin Rogers in 1839.
- Why is Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proves tomatoes are not poisonous by eating a t... significant?
- Robert Gibbon Johnson (July 23, 1771 – October 2, 1850), also known as Colonel Johnson, was an American gentleman farmer, historian, horticulturalist, judge, soldier, and statesman who lived in Salem, New Jersey.