Samuel Johnson Jr.
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Samuel Johnson Jr. (March 10, 1757 – August 20, 1836) was the author of the first English dictionary compiled by an American, ''A school dictionary: being a compendium of the latest and most improved dictionaries''. It was printed in
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, in 1798, by Edward O'Brien. Martha Jane Gibson, from Yale University, sees Samuel Johnson Jr. as America's first
lexicographer Lexicography is the study of lexicons and the art of compiling dictionaries. It is divided into two separate academic disciplines: * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionary, dictionaries. * The ...
. He was a
schoolteacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...
, born in the town of
Guilford, Connecticut Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Connecticut, Madison, Branford, Connecticut, Branford, North Branford, Connecticut, North Branford and Durham, Connecticut, Durham, and is situated on Inter ...
. Although he was a contemporary of British lexicographer Dr.
Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
, they were not related in any way. The coincidence of names leads many people to believe that this last one was the author of the dictionary. Rather, Samuel Johnson Jr. was from an old Guilford family; his father was a clothier, and his great-uncle was the Rev. Dr.
Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
(1696–1772), noted theologian, and first President of King's College (now
Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
). (The ''New York Times'' has Johnson Jr. as the son of the theologian, though this seems less likely.) Also according to the ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', "the
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has a copy presumably perfect;
Yale University Library The Yale University Library is the library system of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Originating in 1701 with the gift of several dozen books to a new “Collegiate School," the library's collection now contains approximately 14.9 m ...
has the Brinley copy, which lacks pages 157-168 out of 198, the total number. No other copies seem to be known".


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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Samuel Jr. 1757 births 1836 deaths American lexicographers