Samuel Johnson

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Johnson house Lichfield

Pembroke Lodge

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Mrs. Samuel Johnson (by Vereist)

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Edial Hall School

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Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. He is perhaps best known for his compilation of the A Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1755; it had a far-reaching effect on Modern English and has been described as "one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship." This work brought Johnson popularity and success. Until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later, Johnson's was the pre-eminent British dictionary. His essays and biographies in The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets and his essays in The Rambler, The Adventurer, and The Idler also contributed to his reputation as one of the most distinguished figures in English letters.

Early Life

Samuel Johnson was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, the son of Michael Johnson, a bookseller, and his wife, Sarah Ford. He was afflicted with several health issues early in life, including scrofula, which left him with disfigured features and poor eyesight. Despite these challenges, Johnson's intellectual capabilities were evident from a young age. He attended Pembroke College, Oxford, but financial difficulties forced him to leave without obtaining a degree.

Career

After leaving Oxford, Johnson attempted to work as a schoolteacher and later as a writer in London. His early works include the poem London (1738), a satirical critique of contemporary society. However, it was the publication of A Dictionary of the English Language that established his literary fame. The dictionary was a monumental task that Johnson undertook single-handedly, in contrast to the French dictionary, which was compiled by forty scholars. Johnson's dictionary was not just a simple word list; it provided a vast lexicon of English, complete with quotations illustrating word usage from a wide range of literary sources.

Beyond his dictionary, Johnson's literary output was prolific. His Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets contained detailed biographies and critical appraisals of 17th and 18th-century poets. His periodical essays, notably those in The Rambler and The Idler, addressed moral, philosophical, and literary topics, reflecting his profound insights into human nature and society.

Later Life and Legacy

In his later years, Johnson continued to write and revise his earlier works. He was a prominent figure in London's literary circle, which included other luminaries such as James Boswell, who became his close friend and biographer. Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson is considered one of the greatest biographies in the English language, providing a detailed account of Johnson's life, his personality, and his views.

Johnson's influence on English literature and language is profound. His works have been admired for their clarity, moral insight, and lexical precision. He was a staunch defender of the English language's stability and eloquently argued against unnecessary changes in spelling and grammar.

Johnson's contributions were recognized in his lifetime; he was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University and a pension by King George III, which allowed him financial independence in his final years. He passed away in 1784 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, a testament to his significant impact on British culture and literature.

See Also

• A Dictionary of the English Language
• James Boswell
• The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets
• The Rambler
• The Idler