Mordecai Wyatt Johnson (January 12 1890 – September 10, 1976) was an American educator. He served as the first black president of Howard University, from 1926 until 1960.

Johnson was born in Paris, Tennessee, the son of the Reverend Wyatt J. Johnson and his wife, the former Carolyn Freeman.

Johnson received his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1911, and another from the University of Chicago two years later. He studied at several institutions of higher education, including the Rochester Theological Seminary, Harvard University, Howard University, and the Gammon Theological Seminary.

He married Anna Ethelyn Gardner on December 25 1916. Their children included:

• Carolyn Elizabeth Johnson (b. December 3 1917)
• Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, Jr. (b. April 1 1922– d. August 1981).
• Archer Clement Johnson (b. December 2 1924)
• William Howard Johnson (b. October 6 1930)
• Anna Faith Johnson (b. April 8 1932)

On June 26 1926 Johnson was unanimously elected President of Howard University, becoming the first African American to head that institution. He served until 1960. Prior to his appointment Johnson had served as Professor of Economics and History at Morehouse. He had also served as Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.

References

• Yenser, Thomas (editor), Who's Who in Colored America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Persons of African Descent in America, Brooklyn, New York, 1930-1931-1932 (third edition)