Samuel Johnson 1709-1784 by James Barry c. 1777

Johnson's good friend, Reynolds, the famous portrait painter, painted Johnson many times, but those who knew him best, declared that the most revealing portrait by far of the lexicographer, was done by James Barry, for it clearly reveals in his face, the "vulnerability and melancholia" that prevailed throughout his life.

Samuel Johnson 1756 by Joshua Reynolds

Samuel Johnson 1770 by Joshua Reynolds

Samuel Johnson 1775 by Joshua Reynolds

Samuel Johnson 1782-4 Joshua Reynolds' last portrait of Johnson

Samuel Johnson by John Opie

Samuel Johnson's death mask

Johnson "is always in revolt." He described his life as "radically wretched." It was marred by cruel paradoxes. His noble mind was trapped in a fat, ungainly body and his face disfigured by a childhood disease. His scholar's passion for books was cursed by abysmally poor eyesight. He was a man of high moral principle and stern rationality but haunted to the end of his days by fears of madness and Hell.

This renowned wit, man of letters, poet and brilliant conversationalist lived from 1749 to 1759 at 17 Gaugh Street just off Fleet Street in London, England. It is the only one of his 16 London addresses still in existence. He chose this four-storey, early eighteenth century redbrick house because it was near the printer of his great work. He rented it with the advance he had received from the publishers for the Dictionary. It is visited annually by thousands of tourists.

During his early years here, circumstances seem to have been comfortable for Johnson. He received the sum of 1575 pounds for compiling the Dictionary, supplemented by other small payments for miscellaneous literary work. However, this sum had to be spread over a number of years and compensate as well his emanuenses. In later years he fell upon hard times as this letter to a friend indicated.

"Sir,
I am obliged to entreat your assistance. I am now under arrest for five pounds, eighteen shillings. Mr. Strachan, from whom I should have received the necessary help in this case, is not at home; and I am afraid of not finding Mr. Millar. If you will be so good as to send me this sum, I will gratefully repay you and add to it all former obligations. I am Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant,"
SAMUEL JOHNSON
Gough Square, 16 March (1756)

Dr. Johnson's House 17 Gough Square

Johnson featured in Stained Glass in his Gough Street home.

17 Gough Square photo by G. Wilson

Johnson's favourite chair photo by G. Wilson

Entering Johnson's attic photo by G. Wilson

Johnson's house is now a museum and is supposed to contain material relating to the life of Johnson and the circle of his friends, but there was little memorabilia in the museum when we visited it. Most of the rooms were relatively empty. Nevertheless, climbing the four flights of stairs to his "dictionary workshop" where he along with his six amanuenses - five Scots and an Englishman labouring under his critical scrutingy, worked for nine years on his famous Dictionary was a very enjoyable experience.

The dining-room and the staircase of Johnson's house

Dictionary Attic after Gough Street Blitzed by A Flying Bomb on 18 July, 1944

"What would be the security of the good,
If the bad could, at pleasure, invade them from the sky?" Rasselas

Though damage was severe, the house was successfully restored.

The work that established Johnson's reputation was the first, comprehensive English dictionary published in 1755. It was compiled in the long, hall-like room in the attic in the newly rented house on Gough Square. where he and his copyists worked at the task. They toiled in the garret while Johnson wrote the definitions of over 40,000 words and illustrated them with 114,000 quotations drawn from every field of learning and literature. It is thought he may have gathered over twice this number, but dropped many lest "the bulk of my volumes fright away the student." His citations were thought to be "highly selective and chosen more for their literary or moral value, than for their linguistic value." He chose them all from just seven sources: Shakespeare, Dryden, Milton, Addison, Bacon, Pope and the Bible.

For example for the word Eternally he quoted Addison as follows.

Bear me, some god, to Baja's gentle feats,
Or cover me in Umbria's green retreats,
Where western gales eternally reside,
And all the seasons lavish all their pride."

Johnson declared his purpose was to produce a dictionary "by which the pronunciation of our language may be fixed and its attainment facilitated by which its purity may be preserved, its use ascertained and its duration lengthened." The prodigious work brought him fame and a Master of Arts degree from Oxford that he failed to achieve earlier. The compliment was a mutual one for the university said it did itself more honour than Johnson to have "such a work done by an Oxford hand." Johnson was also granted an honorary doctorate by Trinity College, Dublin in 1765 and again by Oxford in 1775. Thereafter he received the title by which he has become known: Dr. Johnson.

In 1762 he also received a crown pension of 300 pounds a year. He was admired by George III, who on one occasion when told Johnson was in the library, made a special trip there to see him.

Johnson's Dictionary, 3rd Edition, 1767 (There were five editions during his lifetime.)

For nearly a century, Dr. Johnson's Dictionary was regarded as the standard dictionary of the English language. In his preface to it, he said, "Tongues, like governments, have a natural tendency to degeneration. We have long preserved our constitution. Let us make some struggles for our language."

Some of the more prosaic words he included are:

Johnson was honest enough to admit there were some words whose meaning he did not know. Two of these are: stammel:(a coarse woollen clothing fabric usually died red and used sometimes for undershirts of penitents) and trolmydames: an old English game like bagatelle, also called pigeon-holes or nine-holes) There were mistakes, one of which was his definition of pastern as the knee of a horse, when it is the part of the foot between the fetlock and hoof. When asked why he had so defined it, his forthright reply was, "Ignorance, Madam, pure ignorance."

Johnson is considered to be the second most quoted man after Shakespeare. Some of his quotations include the following.

An Imaginary Scene of Johnson in Chesterfield's waiting room

A frustrated and angry Johnson waited outside Lord Chesterfield's office for an opportunity to speak with him about serving as the Dictionary's sponsor or patron. Chesterfield had earlier indicated that he was interested in doing so, but on the occasion of Johnson's visit, he was informed that Chesterfield was engaged and unable to speak with him. Johnson said he tried on other occasions without success and he fumed about Chesterfield's "continued neglect."

However, just prior to the Dictionary's release, Chesterfield, who regularly contributed essays to a publication called the World, praised the forthcoming book. The news that the great Lord Chesterfield had seen fit to endorse his work was joyously related to Johnson. This resulted in Johnson's memorable reply to the nobleman part of which follows.

"Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water and when he has reached ground encumbers him with help? The notice you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary and cannot impart it; till I am known and do not want it."

Chesterfield, who some historians say was unfairly faulted, admired the letter greatly and kept it at his door for visitors to read. When Johnson described Chesterfield as the proudest man in the kingdom, he was told there was one prouder - Johnson. His reply: "But mine is defensive pride."

Lord Chesterfield

Cheshire Cheese Pub

Cheshire Cheese Bill of Fare

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
One of many pubs that Johnson visited as he
"lumbered like a big bear"
up and down busy Fleet Street.

Woebegone Will toasting Johnson at the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub photo by G. Wilson

We were told that the large portrait of Johnson hung above Johnson's favourite seat in the pub. We visited this place made famous by Johnson and his Club members one afternoon and got there just as the barkeep was closing up for a brief break. We indicated we had travelled a great distance from Canada just to savour the atmosphere of the pub once frequented by Johnson. He let us in commenting as he did so, "How many times have I heard that one." We had roast beef and yorkshire pudding which I washed down with a flagon of mead.

Johnson's circle of friends and enemies included among many others the likes of: James Boswell; Joshua Reynolds; Oliver Goldsmith of whom he said: "his countenance was coarse and vulgar, his deportment was that of a scholar awkwardly affecting the easy gentleman." Alexander Pope of whose "social qualities too high an opinion could not easily be formed." Edmund Burke: "His stream of mind is perpetual." Jean-Jacques Rousseau: "a nice little man." Edward Gibbon: "an ugly, affected, disgusting fellow whose attendance poisoned every meeting."

Literary Party at Sir Joshua Reynold's From left: Boswell, Johnson, Reynolds, Burke, Garrick, Paoli, Warton, & Goldsmith

Johnson's Letter to Dr. Oliver Goldsmith nominating James Boswell to be a member of "the Club".

We were told Johnson's head was on display downstairs and we checked it out before we left.

Plaster head of Johnson displayed in basement of Cheshire Cheese. photo by G. Wilson

A footnote about a bizarre incident which occurred as we prepared to leave the pub. A signature book was available for signing by the pub's patrons and as G.prepared to sign her name, she was astounded to see the name immediately preceding hers was that of a close high school friend. We quickly left the tavern to catch her, but she was nowhere to be seen. G's sister saw her one day and related the incident to the individual.

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Copyright © 2008 W. R. Wilson