Johnston Cornish

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Johnston Cornish (June 13, 1858 – June 26, 1920) was an American Democratic politician from New Jersey. He was born in Bethlehem Township and moved with his family to Washington, New Jersey, in 1870. He attended common schools and graduated from Easton Business College in Pennsylvania, later working in the manufacture of pianos and organs.

Cornish served as the Mayor of Washington, New Jersey from 1884 to 1887. He then represented Warren County in the New Jersey Senate from 1891 to 1893. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat and served New Jersey’s 4th district from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1895. He sought reelection in 1894 but was not successful, and he also lost again in 1896. He accompanied William Jennings Bryan on a whistle-stop tour of New Jersey, stopping in Washington on September 23, 1896.

After his time in Congress, Cornish returned to state politics, again serving in the New Jersey Senate from Warren County from 1900 to 1902 and from 1906 to 1911. He was president of Cornish Piano in 1910 and served on the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. He also held leadership roles in banking, serving as president of the First National Bank, Washington Water, and the Warren County Bankers’ Association at the time of his death.

Cornish died in Washington, New Jersey, on June 26, 1920, at age 62. He was buried in the Cornish family plot in Washington Cemetery.