Samuel Johnson

Lexicographical revolutionary who standardized English language

Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) transformed global communication through his A Dictionary of the English Language (1755). This 9-year solo project systematized English vocabulary with 42,773 entries using literary examples from Shakespeare to Milton.

Johnson's work established modern lexicography standards including etymology tracking, pronunciation guides, and nuanced definitions. His dictionary remained authoritative until the Oxford English Dictionary in 1884, influencing Noah Webster's American dictionary.

Beyond lexicography, Johnson redefined literary criticism through The Lives of the Poets and political commentary in essays like 'The Rambler'. His intellectual gatherings at London's Turk's Head Tavern pioneered collaborative scholarship models later adopted by encyclopedists.