Samuel Johnson

This is a biographical book. Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 [O. S. 7 September] – 13 December 1784), often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory, and has been described as 'arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history'. He is also the subject of 'the most famous single work of biographical art in the whole of literature'. James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson. Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Johnson attended Pembroke College, Oxford for just over a year, before his lack of funds forced him to leave. After working as a teacher he moved to London, where he began to write for The Gentleman's Magazine. His early works include the biography The Life of Richard Savage, the poems 'London' and 'The Vanity of Human Wishes', and the play Irene.