Today is the birthday of Samuel Johnson (books by this author), born in Litchfield, England (1709). He was a sickly child, but very intelligent, and when he decided to wed at the age of 25, he set out in search of an intelligent wife. He found one in Elizabeth Porter Jervis, whom he called "Tetty." Jervis, at 46, was 21 years his senior, a widow, and had three children. When she met Johnson, she remarked to her daughter, "That is the most sensible man I ever met." Johnson referred to the marriage as "a love-match on both sides" and grieved her deeply after her death in 1752.
Johnson single-handedly compiled A Dictionary of the English Language. Published in 1755, it took him nine years to complete, and contained almost 43,000 words. Johnson illustrated many of the words with quotes from literature. He also used humor. One of many examples was his definition of oats: "A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland appears to support the people."
He was also a prolific essayist, writing for publications like The Rambler and The Idler. He grew famous for his pithy aphorisms, like "The jest which is expected is already destroyed." And "Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures."
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