He was baptised 16 December 1792 at Pentrich, a son of Alexander Johnson and Hannah formerly Fletcher.
Alexander was a framework knitter or labourer and lived at Pentrich before his marriage. In 1817 he was aged 24. This information comes from the records of the trial of the men who took part in the Pentrich Revolution in 1817 at the Assize that began on 26 July that year. In the depositions that were made by the witnesses and defendants it was stated that Alexander was a member of the Hampden club and collected money to defray Thomas Bacon’s expenses to London and back. He also had had a pike from Sampson Fletcher of Pentrich, Blacksmith and was with the mob at Pentrich and at Codnor.
Alexander pleaded guilty. Of Alexander and two others it was said "These are quiet men and bore good characters previously, they were led into acts of violence against their better judgement and will be let off easily." For his part in the uprising he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, which he served at Derby gaol. Afterwards Alexander settled at Alfreton as the Pentrich villagers were not sympathetic to the cause.
Alexander married Elizabeth Sellors (or Lillors) 9 November 1827 at Alfreton
In the 1841 census, Common End (?), Alfreton, Alexander (45-49) is a framework knitter (cotton), with Elizabeth (45-49), William (10) and John (7). All were born in Derbyshire.
In the 1851 census of Alfreton, Alexander is 58, a widower, a framework knitter, born at Pentrich, with sons William, 20, and John, 17, both framework knitters and born at Alfreton.
In the 1861 census of Derby Road, Alfreton, Alexander was a widower aged 68, a stocking framework knitter, born at Pentrich. His sons were William aged 30 and John aged 27, both unmarried and stocking framework knitters, and born at Alfreton.
Alexander’s burial is recorded in the register of St Martin at Alfreton. It reads Alexander Johnson aged 70, 4 March 1863.
In the 1881 census of Alfreton (4 Bacon Square or Colling Road?) as a lodger was John Johnson aged 47 (unmarried), a framework knitter, born at Alfreton and in Colling Road was William Johnson aged 50, a framework knitter, with wife Jane 53, a cleaner and granddaughter Ellen Pane, aged 3 a scholar, all born at Alfreton. There was also a lodger, Frederick Pane, a widower aged 53 a coal miner born at Belton, Leics.) These look like the two sons of Alexander and Elizabeth: