Samuel Johnson, a celebrated cultural figure in Great Britain, was born in Lichfield, England in 1709 and died in London, where he had lived since 1737. He was a poet, biographer, lexicographer, essayist, editor, and reviewer. Among his accomplishments was an edition of Shakespeare’s plays, the Lives of the Poets, and the Dictionary of the English Language, which was the authoritative dictionary until the Oxford English Dictionary appeared a century and a half later.
Johnson is the most quoted of English authors, second to Shakespeare. In 1763 Johnson met James Boswell, who began to take notes of their conversations which culminated in the notable biography The Life of Samuel Johnson. Also in 1763, Johnson helped formed The Club, later known as The Literary Club, that included the well-known artists, political thinkers, and writers of the time.
An exhibit commemorating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Johnson is on display in the Adams Library lobby for the month of July.
Samuel Johnson Project – This site contains information about the project conceived to create a public sculpture program in Lichfield to celebrate the Tercentenary of Samual Johnson’s birth.
Dr. Johnson’s House – This site contains information about the home and workplace of Samuel Johnson in London.
Samual Johnson Tercentenary - This site contains information about the celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Johnson, which falls on 18 September 2009.
The Johnson Society of London - The Society, which was founded in 1928, is made up of people with interests in the life and work of Samuel Johnson, his circle and his times. We welcome all who share these or similar interests.