Johnson, Samuel

Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), was an English writer, lexicographer, and critic. He was awarded an M. A. degree by Oxford University in 1755 and honorary doctorates by Trinity College Dublin in 1765 and by Oxford University in 1775. Johnson wrote poetry, biographies, essays, and pamphlets. His masterpiece is A Dictionary of the English Language (1755). He also wrote such famous works as Lives of Poets (1781) andThe Vanity of Human Wishes (1749).

English lexicographer, essayist, poet, and moralist, Samuel Johnson was major literary figure in 18th Century. He was referred to as ‘Great Champion of Literature’. His literary style is called ‘Johnsonese’ which is rigorously balanced, Latinate and pithy.