The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography describes Johnson as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history… See All . Nine. Find more info on this show with Bing Search. Samuel Johnson: The Dictionary Man; Samuel Johnson: The Dictionary Man. A Dictionary of the English language in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers: to which are prefixed, a history of the language, and an English grammar, 6th edition, by Samuel Johnson; 1785; J. F. Though at heart I'm strictly an OED man, and at work I tend to use the more practical Merriam-Webster's, I've always had a special place in my heart for Samuel Johnson's masterpiece, and I've cherished my facsimile copy (never had the $10,000 an original copy would set me back). Samuel Johnson: The Dictionary Man. Poverty and illness followed Johnson … Johnson's Dictionary defined 42,733 words, almost all seriously. … Share this Rating. Defining Travel and Travels. Nine years … Samuel Johnson (Lichfield, 18 september 1709 – Londen, 13 december 1784) meestal Dr. Johnson genoemd, was een Engelse lexicograaf, dichter, essayist en literatuurcriticus.Johnson was in zijn tijd een van de belangrijkste figuren van het Londense literaire en intellectuele milieu. History Predecessors. Dr. Samuel Johnson, creator of the Dictionary of Modern English, would often visit two sisters in 18th-century London – Mrs Digby and Mrs Brooke.On one of these visits, the two ladies were paying Johnson many compliments about his recently published dictionary, particularly commending him for not including any ‘ghastly’ rude words. Samuel Johnson. Not—it has at once to be added—the maker of the greatest dictionary, for he was a lesser great man than Johnson (not quite the same as a less great man than Johnson), being the man who gave himself and us the New, later the Oxford, English Dictionary: the indispensable James A. H. Murray. First published in 1755, the dictionary took just over eight years to compile, required six helpers, and listed 40,000 words. Prior to Bierce, the best-known writer of amusing definitions was Samuel Johnson.His A Dictionary of the English Language was published 15 April 1755.