Bumpy Johnson used to have a strong presence in the American underworld. He was regarded as one of the most ruthless and notorious crime bosses. In the mid-twentieth century, Bumpy had a powerful criminal empire based in New York City. To be specific, people addressed him as the Godfather of Harlem. Aside from committing crimes, he used to offer financial aid to the local residents of the city. This led people to perceive him as a community figure.
His life includes everything from organised criminal activities to racial conflicts, street politics, prison, etc. Bumpy Johnson was deeply connected with other mobsters like Lucky Luciano. He was responsible for most of the illegal gambling and drug trade in Harlem at the time. The popular TV series ‘Godfather of Harlem’ is inspired by his life. Keep reading further to know more details about him. This biography blog covers Bumpy Johnson daughter, early life, family, death, criminal ventures, etc.
Biography & Wiki – Bumpy Johnson
The official name given to him at birth is Ellsworth Raymond Johnson. As a criminal mastermind, Bumpy Johnson became his alias identity. He came into this world on October 31, 1905. Further, his birthplace is located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. He was a crime boss and drug trafficker his entire life. Bumpy Johnson controlled the entire Harlem Neighbourhood in New York City, USA. Before he died in 1968, he had a lot of influence as a mobster.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ellsworth Raymond Johnson |
| Date of Birth | October 31, 1905 |
| Age at death | 62 years old |
| Birthplace | Charleston, South Carolina, USA |
| Died | July 7, 1968 (Heart attack) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Crime boss, drug trafficker, and racketeer |
| Marital Status | Married |
Early Life & Upbringing
Bumpy Johnson spent his childhood growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It was a Christian household, and he had loving parents. He witnessed his brother, Willie, being accused of the murder of a white male individual. Bumpy was just 10 years old at the time. According to sources, he had hatred for white people and a short temper as a teenager.
This was a huge cause of concern for his parents. That’s why he was sent to live in Harlem with his elder sister. Eventually, he dropped out and never went back to high school. While working some local jobs, Bumpy Johnson caught the attention of a gangster named William Hewett, who employed him later.
Educational Background
He attended multiple schools in Charleston (South Carolina) and Harlem (New York). Bumpy Johnson dropped out of an unnamed high school before his graduation. Sources claim that he started working several jobs in the area before becoming a criminal.
Bumpy Johnson Age & Cause of Death
His date of birth is October 31, 1905. Bumpy Johnson died due to a heart attack on July 7 1968. At the time, he was 62 years old. Reportedly, he was having a meal at the Wells Restaurant in Harlem, New York. He fell over from his seat and was seen grabbing his chest tightly. Bumpy is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
Physical Appearance
| Height | 5 feet and 7 inches |
| Weight | 75 kgs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Skin Color | Dark skinned (Black) |
| Appearance | Large and buff |
Family Members of Bumpy Johnson
The name of his father was William Johnson. Bumpy’s mother was named Margaret Moultrie Johnson. In terms of siblings, he had a brother named Willie Johnson. Lastly, the name of his sister is Mabel Johnson. There are no details about the professions of his family members,
Love Life, Marriage, & Bumpy Johnson Daughter
Bumpy Johnson was a married man up until his death. His wife’s name is Mayme Hatcher Johnson. They met each other only a few months before their marriage. To be specific, their wedding was witnessed in October of 1948. Bumpy and Mayme welcomed a daughter named Ruthie Johnson. He also had another daughter, Elease Johnson, from a previous relationship.
Complete Professional Journey As A Crime Boss In New York
Bumpy Johnson had entered the criminal underworld of Harlem in the 1920s. At the time, he worked several small local jobs for gangsters. For example, being a part of their muscles and protection. William Hewett is the gangster who introduced Bumpy to a life of crime. Thereafter, he started working with Stephanie St Clair. This association helped him earn a lot of prominence and power.
Stephanie used to operate illegal gambling in Harlem. Bumpy Johnson became his primary enforcer with complete trust. The numbers racket has been a popular gambling game in Harlem since the start. A white mobster named Dutch Schultz wanted to take control of all the gambling operations in the city. This led to a violent conflict against St Clair and Bumpy Johnson. This gang war consisted of several murders and kidnappings, which spanned across the early 1930s.
It came to an end after the death of Dutch Schultz in 1935. That’s when Bumpy Johnson got in touch with the Italian Mafia and negotiated a deal. He made agreements with Lucky Luciano that Harlem would be under his influence and control. Meanwhile, Bumpy will cooperate and continue to work with organized crime families of New York. At this point, he was involved in everything from extortion to loan sharking, illegal gambling, and the heroin trade.
Throughout his entire life, Bumpy Johnson was arrested on more than 40 occasions. He was even sent to prison multiple times, including the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. After being released from Prison in 1963 due to a parole, he came back to Harlem. He wanted to rebuild his complete criminal empire and influence. For the same reason, he worked with Malcolm X and Frank Lucas.
Bumpy Johnson Net Worth
At the time of his death, Bumpy Johnson had already accumulated a large wealth. Specifically, his net worth was estimated to be USD 50 million. From extortion to drug trafficking, gambling operations, loan sharking, etc, everything was a source of income for Bumpy. He was one of the wealthiest criminals in the history of New York City.
Trivia
- The MGM+ TV series ‘Godfather of Harlem’ is based on the criminal empire of Bumpy Johnson.
- He earned the nickname Bumpy due to a bump on the back of his head.
- According to sources, he was fond of writing poetry and rhymes.
- Bumpy Johnson had a hobby of reading philosophy books.
- He was locked up at the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary for multiple years. He was charged with heroin trafficking.
- Aside from the Godfather of Harlem show, even the film American Gangster is based on the life of Bumpy Johnson.
- Bumpy Johnson was connected with several gangsters and mobsters in New York. For example, Lucky Luciano, Stephanie St Clair, Frank Lucas, etc.
- He used to play chess regularly with his friends and gang members.
FAQs
Where was he born?
Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Who were Bumpy’s parents?
Their names were William Johnson and Margaret Moultrie Johnson.
What was his real name?
Bumpy was officially born as Ellsworth Raymond Johnson.
When did he pass away?
He died due to a heart attack on July 7, 1968.
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