Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson
Born	1709-09-18 Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
Died	1784-12-13
Occupation(s)	Author, poet, dramatist, essayist, moral philosopher, literary critic, biographer, editor, lexicographer
Known for	A Dictionary of the English Language; Life of Mr Richard Savage; The Plays of William Shakespeare (annotated edition); The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia; A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland; Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets

Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), commonly referred to as Dr Johnson, was a prominent English author celebrated for his contributions as a poet, dramatist, essayist, moral philosopher, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography regards him as "perhaps the most eminent literary figure in English history."

Originating from Lichfield, Staffordshire, Johnson enrolled at Pembroke College, Oxford but was compelled to leave due to financial hardships. After a period spent teaching, he relocated to London and commenced writing for The Gentleman's Magazine. His initial publications encompassed Life of Mr Richard Savage, the poems London and The Vanity of Human Wishes, as well as the drama Irene. His seminal work, A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), was acclaimed as a monumental scholarly accomplishment. Subsequent creations included essays, an annotated edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare, and the allegorical narrative The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia. In 1763, Johnson formed a friendship with James Boswell; their journey through Scotland inspired A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. Approaching the end of his life, he authored the influential collection Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets.

A devout Anglican and staunch Tory supporter, Johnson's distinctive mannerisms—extensively chronicled by Boswell in Life of Samuel Johnson—have led modern scholars to speculate about Tourette syndrome. He passed away on 13 December 1784 and was interred at Westminster Abbey.

In his later years, Johnson achieved literary fame and had a profound impact on literary criticism and biography. His Dictionary shaped Modern English usage until it was eventually replaced by the Oxford English Dictionary over a century later. Boswell’s biography remains celebrated as a landmark in biographical writing.

Early life and education

Samuel Johnson entered the world on 18 September 1709 as the son of bookseller Michael Johnson and Sarah (née Ford), born in their residence above his father’s bookshop in Lichfield, Staffordshire. His mother was 40 years old at his birth—a late maternal age for that era—which necessitated the attendance of a distinguished man-midwife named George Hector. Johnson’s infancy was marked by frailty; he notably did not cry after birth, causing concern. After contracting scrofula, he underwent the royal touch by Queen Anne in 1712—a ceremony then believed to cure such ailments—but it failed to heal him fully, leaving permanent scars. The queen also bestowed upon him an amulet that he wore throughout his life.

When Johnson was three years old, his brother Nathaniel was born. The family’s financial situation deteriorated with Nathaniel’s arrival, reducing their living standards.

From an early age, Johnson demonstrated intellectual promise; his education began at three under his mother’s supervision with memorization of passages from the Book of Common Prayer. At four, he attended a local school and subsequently studied under a retired shoemaker before enrolling at Lichfield Grammar School, where he excelled particularly in Latin. During this time, Johnson displayed involuntary movements later identified as symptoms consistent with Tourette syndrome. He formed lasting friendships with Edmund Hector and John Taylor.

At age sixteen, Johnson lived with cousins in Worcestershire and received classical tutoring from Cornelius Ford, an academic with influential connections who struggled with alcoholism and died prematurely. After six months away, Johnson returned to Lichfield but was prohibited from rejoining Lichfield Grammar School due to his absence; instead, he enrolled at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge. There he continued composing poetry before returning home.

Ongoing financial difficulties persisted because of his father’s debts until an inheritance from a relative enabled Johnson to pursue university studies. On 31 October 1728, shortly after turning nineteen, he matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford. The inheritance did not cover all costs; a friend provided additional financial assistance.

While at Pembroke, Johnson adopted a disciplined study regimen and produced notable works including a Latin translation of Alexander Pope's Messiah, which received commendations though generated limited income. He began drafting an unfinished study outline titled "Adversaria" and expanded his knowledge of French and Greek.

Following the departure of his tutor Jorden from Pembroke, Johnson fell behind on tuition payments. Consequently, after thirteen months without earning a degree, he left Oxford but maintained aspirations to return.

Eventually recognized for his achievements: just prior to releasing his Dictionary in 1755, Oxford awarded him a Master of Arts degree; later honorary doctorates were conferred by Trinity College Dublin (1765) and Oxford (1775). In 1776, accompanied by James Boswell, he revisited Pembroke College and reflected warmly on his academic experiences and mentors.

Early career

Details about Johnson's life from 1729 to 1731 remain scarce, although it is probable that he resided with his parents and experienced both illness and symptoms consistent with Tourette syndrome. By 1731, his father faced significant financial difficulties and had lost social status in Lichfield. Johnson sought a position as an usher at Stourbridge Grammar School but was turned down because he did not possess a formal degree.

The death of Johnson's father in December 1731 profoundly affected him. Subsequently, he secured employment as an undermaster at a school in Market Bosworth overseen by Sir Wolstan Dixie, who permitted him to teach despite lacking academic credentials. Treated more like a servant and dissatisfied with teaching, Johnson left the post following a dispute and returned home by June 1732.

In his search for work, Johnson assisted publisher Thomas Warren with the Birmingham Journal and proposed translating Jerónimo Lobo's narrative about the Abyssinians. He dictated A Voyage to Abyssinia, which was published a year later. Following this, he initiated an annotated edition of Poliziano's Latin poetry; however, financial constraints caused the project to be abandoned.

Johnson cared for his terminally ill friend Harry Porter until Porter's passing in September 1734. Afterward, Johnson began courting Porter's widow, Elizabeth "Tetty" Jervis, a financially secure widow who pledged her support. Despite family objections related to their age difference, they married in July 1735.

In June 1735, Johnson applied for the headmastership at Solihull School but was rejected partly because of his personality and noticeable facial tics. Motivated by encouragement from his friend Gilbert Walmisley, Johnson established Edial Hall School near Lichfield with only three students, among them the future actor David Garrick. The school venture failed, resulting in significant financial loss for Tetty. Following this setback, Johnson focused on writing his first major play, the tragedy Irene. Biographer Robert DeMaria notes that Johnson’s Tourette syndrome likely hindered his ability to hold public teaching positions, steering him toward a career in writing.

In March 1737, Johnson relocated to London with Garrick, starting out without money but benefiting from Garrick's connections. He settled in Greenwich to finish Irene and proposed translating Paolo Sarpi's The History of the Council of Trent to Edward Cave, who accepted the project after several months. By October 1737, Johnson was employed by Cave as a contributor to The Gentleman's Magazine, undertaking a variety of writing assignments.

Johnson anonymously published the poem London in May 1738. The poem portrayed London as rife with crime and moral decay but did not bring him immediate acclaim. Alexander Pope predicted that Johnson’s talents would soon be recognized.

Johnson was denied a teaching position at Appleby Grammar School due to his lack of an MA degree. Attempts led by Pope and Lord Gower to obtain honorary degrees for him from Oxford or Trinity College Dublin were unsuccessful.

Between 1737 and 1739, Johnson developed a friendship with poet Richard Savage. Feeling uneasy about depending on Tetty’s finances, he distanced himself from her and lived in poverty alongside Savage. Together they worked as Grub Street writers, producing anonymous content for publishers. Savage ultimately died imprisoned for debt in 1743; Johnson honored him with Life of Mr Richard Savage (1744), which is regarded as a pioneering work in biography.

A Dictionary of the English Language

In 1746, Johnson was commissioned by publishers to produce a definitive English dictionary for a fee of 1,500 guineas. Although he initially estimated completing the work within three years, it ultimately took him eight. Despite receiving criticism from figures such as Thomas Babington Macaulay, the Dictionary is widely celebrated as a monumental scholarly accomplishment by a single individual.

Johnson’s rigorous efforts disrupted his domestic life, necessitating the help of several assistants to transcribe and organize underlined passages from numerous texts. During this demanding period, his wife Tetty’s deteriorating health added emotional pressure. To better manage both work and caregiving duties, Johnson relocated closer to his printer, William Strahan.

In 1747, Johnson drafted a Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language, initially supported by Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield. However, after receiving only belated and distant patronage, Johnson publicly criticized Chesterfield. The dictionary was published in April 1755 and earned Johnson an honorary Master of Arts degree from Oxford University. The substantial volume featured 42,773 entries accompanied by roughly 114,000 literary quotations from authors including Shakespeare and Milton. Priced at £4 10s (equivalent to about £350 today), it took several years before the dictionary turned a profit; Johnson did not receive royalties beyond his initial payment.

While not the first or most extensive English dictionary, Johnson’s work addressed widespread dissatisfaction with existing references and set the standard for 150 years until the emergence of the Oxford English Dictionary. It continues to be valued for its insights into eighteenth-century language and literature.

During this era, Johnson also released The Rambler, a collection of 208 essays on moral and religious themes sold biweekly at two pence each. These essays gained substantial popularity, particularly after being compiled into volumes, and earned praise from contemporaries such as Samuel Richardson and novelist Charlotte Lennox.

Johnson’s distinguished poem The Vanity of Human Wishes, modeled after Juvenal’s Satire X, delves into human frailty and self-delusion. Although critically acclaimed, it sold fewer copies than his earlier poem London. His play Irene, staged by Garrick in 1749 under the revised title Mahomet and Irene, received unfavorable reviews and had a brief nine-night run.

Tetty’s health worsened during their time in London; she returned to the countryside in 1752 and passed away that March. Johnson expressed deep sorrow in his letters and composed a funeral sermon that was never delivered. Her death profoundly affected him, contributing to personal despair and impacting his progress on the dictionary.

Later career

On 16 March 1756, Johnson faced arrest over an unpaid debt of £5 18s. Unable to reach others for help, he wrote to writer and publisher Samuel Richardson, who responded by sending six guineas—thus beginning their friendship. Johnson also formed a close bond with painter Joshua Reynolds, whom he described as "almost the only man whom I call a friend." Other intimate companions included Bennet Langton and Arthur Murphy. Around this time, poet Anna Williams became Johnson’s boarder; he provided her with financial support and medical care while she served as his housekeeper.

Johnson launched The Literary Magazine, or Universal Review on 19 March 1756. The publication sparked philosophical debates regarding its role amid the Seven Years' War, prompting Johnson to author polemical essays opposing the conflict. He contributed at least 34 reviews to the magazine. Additionally, he wrote prefaces for authors such as Giuseppe Baretti, William Payne, and Charlotte Lennox—whose literary success heavily relied on his endorsement. To assist with household management during his projects, Johnson employed Francis Barber, a freed slave.

A significant portion of Johnson’s efforts was devoted to The Plays of William Shakespeare. On 8 June 1756, he issued proposals for an improved edition of Shakespeare’s works, critiquing earlier versions. Progress was slow; after being arrested in February 1758 over a £40 debt—which publisher Jacob Tonson promptly paid—Johnson felt renewed determination to complete the edition. Although it took seven years to finalize, he released initial volumes to demonstrate ongoing commitment.

Beginning in 1758, Johnson authored The Idler, a weekly series published until April 1760 in The Universal Chronicle, supported by John Payne among others. During this time he also produced the philosophical novella Rasselas (1759), written within one week to cover funeral expenses for his mother. The work quickly gained popularity and was translated into several languages.

By 1762, Johnson faced criticism for delays in finishing his Shakespeare edition. After receiving an annual government pension of £300 from King George III in July 1762—secured largely through Thomas Sheridan and the Earl of Bute—he was able to concentrate on completing the project. This pension provided him with modest financial independence for life.

On 16 May 1763, Johnson met James Boswell, who would become his biographer. That same year saw the founding of The Club, a social circle including Reynolds, Edmund Burke, Garrick, Goldsmith, Adam Smith, Edward Gibbon, and later Boswell himself. Meeting weekly in Soho, this group remained active well beyond its founders’ lifetimes.

In January 1765, Johnson was introduced to Henry Thrale—a prosperous brewer and Member of Parliament—and his wife Hester. Their association lasted seventeen years until Henry's death in 1781; Johnson frequently stayed at Thrale’s Anchor Brewery in Southwark. Hester Thrale’s diaries offer valuable biographical details about Johnson during this phase.

Johnson’s edition of Shakespeare appeared on 10 October 1765 in eight volumes featuring notes that clarified difficult passages and corrected transcription errors from previous editions. The initial thousand copies sold rapidly. His editorial approach received acclaim from contemporaries like Edmond Malone for providing fresh perspectives on Shakespeare’s works.

Final stages

On 6 August 1773, Johnson embarked on "a journey to the western islands of Scotland" to visit Boswell. This trip led to his 1775 publication, which addressed social conditions in Scotland and commended institutions such as an Edinburgh school for the deaf and mute. During this period, he also questioned the legitimacy of James Macpherson's Ossian poems, igniting intense controversy. Boswell’s The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1786) served as a precursor to his later work, The Life of Samuel Johnson, featuring stories about Johnson’s interactions with Scottish culture.

Throughout the 1770s, Johnson transitioned from opposing government policies to endorsing several through a series of pamphlets. In 1770, The False Alarm criticized John Wilkes; the following year, Thoughts on the Late Transactions Respecting Falkland's Islands cautioned against conflict with Spain; and in 1774, The Patriot condemned insincere patriotism. His notable statement on 7 April 1775—"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"—was directed at Wilkes’ exploitation of patriotism rather than patriotism itself.

Johnson’s final pamphlet, Taxation No Tyranny (1775), defended the Coercive Acts amid American colonial objections to taxation without representation. He contended that colonists relinquished their voting privileges upon emigrating but continued to enjoy "virtual representation" in Parliament. Johnson rejected colonial claims for self-rule and labeled English sympathizers of American separatists as traitors, foreseeing British supremacy over America despite his hope to avoid violent conflict. Previously, he had condemned both sides during the French and Indian War for exploiting Native American territories. Following the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which recognized American independence, Johnson was profoundly troubled by Britain's condition.

On 3 May 1777, while unsuccessfully attempting to prevent Reverend William Dodd’s execution, Johnson focused on composing "little Lives" and "little Prefaces" for a new collection of English poets. Publishers Tom Davies, William Strahan, and Thomas Cadell commissioned this significant final project, Lives of the English Poets, for which Johnson accepted a modest payment of 200 guineas. These critical biographies surpassed initial expectations in both length and depth, culminating in six volumes released by March 1781. Johnson described his objective as offering concise notices with dates and general character sketches akin to French Miscellanies.

Johnson’s achievements were overshadowed by the death of his close friend Henry Thrale on 4 April 1781. The subsequent romantic involvement between Hester Thrale and Italian singing instructor Gabriel Mario Piozzi unsettled Johnson’s routine. After brief travels, he received news that tenant and friend Robert Levet had died on 17 January 1782; Levet had resided at Johnson’s London home since 1762. Levet’s passing deeply affected Johnson, who soon developed bronchitis compounded by grief over Levet’s death and losses of other intimate acquaintances such as Thomas Lawrence and his housekeeper Williams.

Final years

Although Johnson regained his physical strength by August, he experienced emotional turmoil upon learning that Hester Thrale intended to sell the home they had shared, fearing the loss of her steady companionship. On 6 October 1782, despite his weakened state, Johnson made his final solitary visit to church to say goodbye to his former residence. During this visit, he composed a prayer dedicated to the Thrale family:

Hester Thrale invited Johnson on a journey to Brighton, which he accepted, traveling there from 7 October until 20 November 1782. Upon his return, his health worsened, and following Boswell’s departure on 29 May 1783, Johnson was left largely alone.

On 17 June 1783, Johnson experienced a stroke that temporarily affected his ability to speak; with medical assistance, he recovered his speech within two days. He expressed deep fears about death and mourned the absence of close friends who had once supported him. At this time, gout had become severely debilitating; though surgery and visits from acquaintances such as novelist Frances Burney offered some relief. From December 1783 through April 1784, he remained confined to his room.

By May 1784, Johnson’s condition had improved sufficiently for him to accompany Boswell on a trip to Oxford. However, by July many of his friends had either passed away or moved on; Boswell returned to Scotland and Hester Thrale became engaged elsewhere. Choosing to stay in London, Johnson arrived back on 16 November 1784. On 25 November, he permitted Burney to visit and shortly thereafter relocated to George Strahan’s residence in Islington. His final period was marked by psychological distress; when questioned about his state, he responded: "No, Sir; you cannot conceive with what acceleration I advance towards death."

Though numerous visitors came during his last illness, Johnson preferred the company of only Langton. Burney waited anxiously for news alongside others including Windham and Strahan. On 13 December 1784, Johnson bestowed a blessing on a young woman named Miss Morris and uttered his last words to an Italian tutor: "Iam Moriturus" ("I who am about to die"). Soon after, he lapsed into a coma and passed away at 7:00 p.m.

Langton postponed notifying others until 11:00 p.m., causing distress among acquaintances such as John Hawkins and Seward, who described witnessing Johnson's death as "the most awful sight." Boswell recalled feeling shocked and unable to believe the news, while William Gerard Hamilton remarked that Johnson’s passing left an irreplaceable void.

Johnson was interred on 20 December 1784 at Westminster Abbey with the following epitaph:

Literary criticism

In Lives of the Poets, Johnson delineated essential characteristics of effective writing, advocating for contemporary language rather than ornate or antiquated diction. He criticized Milton’s blank verse for encouraging inferior imitations and opposed the poetic style of his contemporary Thomas Gray. Johnson preferred poetry that was straightforward and comprehensible, disfavoring obscure references typical in works like Milton’s Lycidas. He also emphasized originality in poetic imagery.

Johnson’s shorter poems are marked by succinct lines imbued with compassion, influencing subsequent poets such as Housman. His poem London, modeled after Juvenal’s style, blends political critique with a lighthearted tone; meanwhile, The Vanity of Human Wishes employs plain language to address intricate Christian morals focused on God’s boundless love and virtue as routes to true happiness.

Transforming the genre of biography, Johnson insisted on factual accuracy and included unflattering details despite societal discomfort with acknowledging imperfections. He championed biographical works beyond renowned individuals by featuring lesser-known poets in Lives of the Poets and valued minute details that fully captured their subjects’ lives. He held autobiographies and diaries in high regard for their genuine insight.

Johnson’s critical writings aimed primarily at deepening readers’ comprehension rather than founding theoretical frameworks. His Dictionary functioned as a scholarly resource illustrating word usage through quotations from prominent literary and philosophical figures such as Bacon, Milton, Shakespeare, and Spenser across fields including natural science, philosophy, poetry, and theology.

Concerning Shakespeare, Johnson emphasized the importance of readers interpreting the colloquial and elliptical expressions characteristic of the plays. In his Preface, he rejected adherence to classical dramatic unities in favor of plays that reflect real life. While defending Shakespeare’s brilliance, Johnson also pointed out flaws like moral shortcomings, vulgarity, careless plotting, and occasional linguistic inaccuracies. Additionally, he stressed meticulous textual editing to preserve original authorial intent against errors introduced by printers or negligent editors.

Views and character

Johnson’s tall and sturdy build, paired with his unusual mannerisms, initially led to some misunderstanding; upon first encountering him, William Hogarth mistook Johnson for a mentally impaired individual under supervision. Nevertheless, Johnson’s articulate speech swiftly corrected this misconception.

Adam Smith remarked that "Johnson possessed knowledge of more books than any living person," while Edmund Burke considered Johnson would have been "the most exceptional orator" in Parliament. Johnson’s unique style of argumentation is illustrated by his well-known rebuttal to Bishop Berkeley’s immaterialism—he stomped on a stone and declared, "I refute it thus!"

A devout Anglican with conservative views, Johnson was known for aiding numerous impoverished acquaintances despite his own financial constraints. His Christian ethical principles deeply influenced his literary output, securing his reputation as a leading moral philosopher. However, Johnson’s ethical framework did not enforce strict behavioral rules but rather emphasized particular virtues.

He showed respect toward various Christian denominations, appreciating sincere faith irrespective of doctrinal differences. Although he admired Milton’s poetic works, Johnson opposed Milton’s Puritan and Republican beliefs as conflicting with English values and Christianity. Morally against slavery, Johnson once toasted to the "next rebellion of the Negroes in the West Indies." Additionally, he was fond of cats, notably his pets Hodge and Lily.

Politically aligned with the Tory party, Johnson harbored Jacobite sympathies in his youth but ultimately accepted the Hanoverian Succession under King George III. Boswell’s biography contributed to portraying Johnson as a staunch conservative; however, it neglects significant political moments such as Walpole’s administration and the Seven Years' War. Boswell also minimized Johnson’s influential pamphlets due to ideological disagreements.

Boswell often addressed him as 'Dr. Johnson,' a designation Johnson disliked, focusing primarily on his later years as a conversationalist frequenting taverns. Despite their close relationship, Johnson exhibited anti-Scottish sentiments during their Scottish travels—a reflection of common English prejudices at the time. Hester Thrale encapsulated this nationalistic attitude: "We all know how well he loved to abuse the Scotch, & indeed to be abused by them in return."

Health

Throughout his life, Johnson endured numerous health challenges including childhood tuberculous scrofula resulting in facial scars, deafness in one ear, blindness in one eye, gout, testicular cancer, and a stroke in his final year that rendered him mute. His postmortem examination revealed emphysema and heart failure likely caused by hypertension—a condition not understood during his lifetime. He displayed symptoms consistent with both depression and Tourette syndrome.

Many records describe Johnson’s struggles with depression and what he regarded as mental instability. Walter Jackson Bate observed the paradox that a man epitomizing common sense began adulthood engulfed in profound anxiety and despair. To counter these feelings, Johnson pursued relentless activity though without lasting success. Taylor noted an occasion when Johnson contemplated suicide. Boswell described episodes of "horrible melancholia" characterized by irritability, impatience, gloominess, and despair.

Early financial difficulties led Johnson to collaborate with professional writers whose hardships he empathized with deeply. Witnessing Christopher Smart’s descent into poverty and madness intensified Johnson’s fear of similar deterioration. Hester Thrale Piozzi remarked that Johnson’s ability to restrain his emotions distinguished him from others who were institutionalized for mental illness.

More than two centuries after his death, Tourette syndrome has been widely accepted as an accurate diagnosis for Johnson. Although unknown during his life, Boswell documented Johnson’s tics and involuntary movements: head tilting, body rocking, knee rubbing, along with various vocalizations such as whistles or clucks. These behaviors often coincided with contemplative expressions or smiles and became more pronounced following intense conversations.

Johnson frequently exhibited these mannerisms at doorways; when a child inquired about his noises and movements, he attributed them to "bad habit." The diagnosis emerged publicly in 1967; researcher Arthur K. Shapiro regarded Johnson as an exemplary case of thriving despite Tourette’s syndrome. Testimonies from Boswell, Thrale, and others support this conclusion—with one analysis suggesting that without this condition, many of Johnson’s literary accomplishments—including his dictionary and philosophical writings—as well as Boswell’s celebrated biography might never have come to fruition.

Legacy

As Steven Lynn observed, Johnson was not merely a distinguished author and scholar; he became a celebrated figure whose later life and health attracted widespread public attention, often accompanied by exaggerations. Bate highlights that "Johnson had a passion for biography," revolutionizing the form and inspiring Boswell's Life of Johnson, the most renowned biography about him, alongside numerous memoirs and biographical works published after his passing.

Prominent contemporary narratives include Thomas Tyers's A Biographical Sketch of Dr Samuel Johnson (1784), Boswell's The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785), Hester Thrale's Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson, John Hawkins's comprehensive early biography, and Arthur Murphy's 1792 essay introducing a collection of Johnson’s writings. Fanny Burney’s diaries also provide significant firsthand observations. Despite ongoing scholarly debate regarding its factual precision, Boswell’s depiction remains the most influential.

Johnson’s impact as a critic persisted with varying receptions. Macaulay regarded him as an "idiot savant," while Romantic poets frequently rejected his literary judgments, particularly his critiques of Milton. In contrast, contemporaries such as Stendhal drew inspiration from Johnson’s Shakespeare analyses, and Jane Austen absorbed elements of his stylistic and philosophical approach. Later commentators like Matthew Arnold acknowledged Johnson’s Lives of the Poets as a cornerstone in literary criticism.

During the 20th century, critics including G. Birkbeck Hill and T. S. Eliot reevaluated Johnson as a formidable critic, emphasizing his editions of Shakespeare and his biographical essays. Yvor Winters described him as an exceptional literary intellect among critics; F. R. Leavis recognized his incisive critical faculties; Edmund Wilson admired his perceptive literary evaluations.

Harold Bloom situated Johnson firmly within the Western literary canon, underscoring his distinctive emphasis on the mind as an energetic entity necessitating rigorous effort. Johnson’s philosophical stance on language and literature significantly influenced mid-20th-century literary theory.

Approximately half of Johnson’s extant letters, manuscripts, published editions, portraits, and personal belongings have been preserved in the Donald and Mary Hyde Collection at Harvard’s Houghton Library since 2003. This archive contains drafts of his Plan for a Dictionary, materials related to Hester Thrale Piozzi and James Boswell, and even Johnson’s teapot.

Various societies continue to foster interest in Johnson’s life and writings. To mark the bicentenary of his death in 1984, Oxford University organized a week-long symposium featuring fifty presentations; concurrently, the Arts Council displayed "Johnsonian portraits and memorabilia." Media outlets such as The Times and Punch created parodies celebrating his distinctive style. In 1999, BBC Four inaugurated the Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction literature.

A Royal Society of Arts blue plaque commemorates his residence in Gough Square (installed in 1876). In 2009, Johnson was among ten figures featured on Royal Mail’s "Eminent Britons" postage stamps. Google celebrated his 308th birthday with a dedicated Doodle in 2017. The Church of England honors his death anniversary on 13 December within its Calendar of Saints. Additionally, a memorial dedicated to him stands inside London’s St Paul's Cathedral.

Essays

• Birmingham Journal (1732–33)
• Plan for a Dictionary of the English Language (1747)
• The Rambler (1750–52)
• The Adventurer (1753–54)
• Universal Visiter (1756)
• The Literary Magazine, or Universal Review (1756)
• The Idler (1758–60)
• The False Alarm (1770)
• Thoughts on the Late Transactions Respecting Falkland's Islands (1771)
• The Patriot (1774)
• A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (1775)
• Taxation no Tyranny (1775)
• The Beauties of Johnson (1781)

Poetry

• Messiah (1728), Latin rendition of Alexander Pope's Messiah
• London (1738)
• Prologue delivered at the Opening of the Theatre in Drury Lane (1747)
• The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749)
• Irene, a Tragedy (1749)

Biographies

• A Voyage to Abyssinia (1735), translated from French by Jerome Lobo
• Life of Mr Richard Savage (1744)
• Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Macbeth (1745)
• Life of Browne included in Thomas Browne's Christian Morals (1756)
• Proposals for Publishing, by Subscription, the Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare (1756)
• Preface to William Shakespeare’s Plays (1765)
• The Plays of William Shakespeare (1765)
• Lives of the Poets (1779–81)

Dictionaries

• Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
• A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

Novella

• The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia (1759)

Further reading

• W. Jackson Bate, Samuel Johnson. A Biography, Counterpoint, Berkeley, 1998, ISBN 978-1-58243-524-4
• A. M. Broadley, Doctor Johnson and Mrs Thrale: Including Mrs Thrale's unpublished Journal of the Welsh Tour Made in 1774 and Much Hitherto Unpublished Correspondence of the Streatham Coterie, John Lane The Bodley Head, London, 1909
• L. G. Fine, "Samuel Johnson's illnesses", J Nephrol, vol. 19, Suppl 10, May–June 2006, pp. S110–114
• Adam Gopnik, "Man of Fetters: Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Thrale", The New Yorker, vol. 84, no. 40, 8 December 2008, pp. 90–96
• M. J. C. Hodgart, Samuel Johnson, Batsford, London, 1962
• Samuel Johnson, Letters, edited by R. W. Chapman, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1952, ISBN 0-19-818538-3
• Samuel Johnson, Selected Essays from the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler, edited by W. Jackson Bate, Yale University Press, New Haven - London, 1968, ISBN 978-0-300-00016-0
• Samuel Johnson, Major Works, edited by Donald Greene, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000, ISBN 0-19-284042-8
• Freya Johnston, "I'm Coming, My Tetsie!" (review of David Womersley's Samuel Johnson, Oxford University Press, 2018), London Review of Books, vol. 41, no. 9 (9 May 2019), pp. 17–19
• F. R. Leavis, "Johnson as Critic", Scrutiny, vol. 12, 1944, pp. 187–204
• Walter Raleigh (professor), Samuel Johnson: the Leslie Stephen lecture delivered in the Senate House Cambridge 22 February 1907, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1907
• Leslie Stephen, Studies of a Biographer, Duckworth and Co., London, 1898; chapter "Johnsoniana", pp. 105–146
• Jenny Uglow, "Big Talkers" (review of Leo Damrosch's The Club: Johnson, Boswell, and the Friends Who Shaped an Age, Yale University Press), The New York Review of Books, vol. LXVI, no. 9 (23 May 2019), pp. 26–28

External links

• Standard Ebooks: Works by Samuel Johnson
• Project Gutenberg: Samuel Johnson's Writings
• Internet Archive: Collection of Samuel Johnson
• Internet Archive: Materials on Dr Johnson
• Librivox: Audio Recordings of Samuel Johnson's Works
• Online Version of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
• Samuel Johnson featured in the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
• Chronologically Organized Complete Texts of Johnson's Essays
• BBC Radio 4 broadcasts: In Our Time and Great Lives
• A Monument More Durable Than Brass: The Donald and Mary Hyde Collection of Dr. Samuel Johnson – Harvard University's digital exhibition
• The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page, an extensive compilation of quotations
• Samuel Johnson at London's National Portrait Gallery
• Life of Johnson by James Boswell, abridged by Charles Grosvenor Osgood (1917)