Samuel Johnson Biography Notable works and facts

Samuel Johnson Profile

Name: Samuel Johnson

Pen Name: Dr Johnson

Birth Date: September 18, 1709

Birth Place: Lichfield, United Kingdom

Death Date: December 13, 1784

Death Place: London, United Kingdom

Cause of Death: Stroke

Death Age: 75 years

Resting Place: Westminster Abbey

Occupation: Poet, Literary critic, Biographer, Essayist, Lexicographer, Playwright

Alma mater: Pembroke College (1728–1731) and King Edward VI School, Oxford

Parents: Michael Johnson (Father), Sarah Ford (Mother)

Siblings: Nathaniel Johnson

Spouse: Elizabeth Johnson (m.1735–1752)

Number of Children: 3

Sons:

           1. Joseph Porter

           2. Jervis Henry Porter

Daughter:

            1. Lucy Porter

Samuel Johnson Notable Works

1. Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets

2. The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia

3. A Dictionary of the English Language

4. A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland

5. The Vanity of Human Wishes

6. Irene (play)

7. The Idler

8.London (poem)

9. Messiah (Latin poem)

9. Taxation no tyranny

10. The false alarm

11. Thoughts on the Late Transactions Respecting Falkland's Islands

12. Preface to Shakespeare

13. Prayers and meditations

14. A Voyage to Abyssinia

Early life and Education

The idiosyncratic genius of the Eighteenth-Century English literature, Dr Samuel Johnson was basically a moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, poet, playwright, essayist and lexicographer. His father was a bookseller at Lichfield. Johnson received his early education at his native town. He went to Oxford in 1728 but had to leave his studies without taking a degree due to stern penury. He was an usher in a school at Market Bosworth. But the position seemed to him a drudgery and he quitted it within a short period. He started working at a publishing house with a shabby remuneration.

Married Life

At twenty-six (in 1735) he married Mrs Porter, a widow of over forty and took £800 as dowry. He tried to remain as a devout husband. 

Literature Life

He opened an academy at Ediol, near Lichfield. But, this attempt of him was an utter debacle. Only three boys would attend it regularly, and David Garrick who became a famous actor in later life was one of them. This venture was discarded. Johnson went to London in 1737, and Garrick accompanied him.

Johnson's life in London was a hard struggle with humiliation, penury and all kinds of evils; but he never lost his faith in God and in himself. In London, Johnson is found to contribute to the Gentleman Magazine, providing the parliamentary debates in very simple and developed form, under the title of ‘Debates of the Senate of Lilliput’.

In 1738, he published ‘London’. It was published anonymously, but drew instant attraction, even of Pope also. It was satire. Next, he composed the biography of his unfortunate friend Savage in 1744. He began his immortal task, the composition of English Dictionary in 1747. The Vanity of Human Wishes (a satire) and Irene (a tragedy) were published in 1749. Then he undertook another great venture- publishing a paper somewhat on the same line of the Spectator. 

He named it Rambler. In its characteristic feature, it was quite different from the spectator-the Rambler was sententious and grave. On the other hand, the Spectator was light and graceful. The first one, ever could not achieve the popularity of the second one. This magazine carried on twice a week for two years. His wife, ‘his dear Tetty’ died in 1752. Her death was a serious trauma to him. 

His dictionary was published in 1755. Once he attempted for (but vainly) the patronage of Lord Chesterfield and now he was offered it. But the offer was turned down by him proudly in the letter, that is considered presently as a classic. The work made Johnson renowned and Oxford granted him an honorary degree of an M.A. Reynolds, Goldsmith, Burke and many others befriended him.

The Rambler was followed by The Idler (1758-60), but it was less serious than the Rambler. His most popular work was Rasselas, which was written in 1759. And the pathetic note that rings with the recall of Rasselas is that it had been written to meet the funeral expenses of his mother who had passed away then at the age of ninety.

Eventually, fortune smiled upon him. He has conferred a pension of E300 in 1762. The rest of his life was spent in honour and comfort. The year 1763 also was significant in his life. This year he met James Boswell and established his famous ‘Literary Club’. In 1765, his edition of Shakespeare was published. His last grand literary task was the Lives of the Poets, in 10 vols. (1779-81).

His travelogue Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland was published in 1775. In these journeys, he had been accompanied by James Boswell. Johnson had suffered lifelong from a morbid fear of death. Still, he bore his last illness with fortitude. Reynolds and Burke were by his side during his illness. He died peacefully on 13th December 1784, He was buried in Westminster Abbey. 

A monument was established in St. Paul's by the members of his ‘Literary Club’. In Lichfield and Uttoxeter, his statues were founded. He was honoured with the degree of LL.D. from both Oxford and Dublin. His notable qualities were honesty and courage. He will ever stand one of the greatest and most honourable figures in the history of English literature.