Samuel Johnson
- Born:
- September 18, 1709, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
- Died:
- December 13, 1784, London, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Lexicographer, Writer, Poet, Essayist, Moralist, Literary Critic, Biographer
Early Life and Education
- Born to Sarah Ford and Michael Johnson, a bookseller.
- Attended Lichfield Grammar School.
- Briefly attended Pembroke College, Oxford, but was unable to complete his studies due to financial constraints.
Career and Major Achievements
- Early career involved writing for The Gentleman's Magazine.
- Established his reputation as a literary critic and essayist.
- Most famously known for compiling A Dictionary of the English Language. Johnson's effort to compile this 'biography define dictionary of quotations' cemented his place in literary history.
- Edited the works of William Shakespeare.
- Authored The Lives of the Poets.
Notable Works
- A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
- The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759)
- The Lives of the Poets (1779-1781)
- London (1738), a poem
- The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749), a poem
Legacy and Impact
Samuel Johnson is considered one of the most significant figures in English literature. His dictionary standardized the English language and his literary criticism shaped the tastes of his time. He remains a central figure in the study of 18th-century literature and culture.