Samuel Johnson, biographer, essayist, critic, poet, prose writer, parliamentary writer, playwright and conversationalist, was also an extraordinary lexicographer. He published his two-volume Dictionary on April 15, 1755, "The Dictionary of the English Language." This dictionary was also sometimes published as Johnson's Dictionary. Robert Burchfield, the modern lexicographer, commented on Johnson's Dictionary: In the whole tradition of the English language and literature, the only dictionary compiled by a first-rate writer is that of Dr. Johnson. Samuel Johnson, the major literary figure of the mid-eighteenth century, was born to Sarah and Michael Johnson on September 18, 1709. Although his father was once sheriff of However, he faced financial problems from birth through his studies at Oxford and beyond late in his literary career. He had contracted tuberculosis from his wet nurse and had also contracted scrofula. He could barely see out of one eye. Yet the laurels attached to Johnson's name are immense. Although he had to endure physical and financial hardships, he achieved great heights. If it had been any other person, it would not have been possible for him to achieve as much success in the literary field as Johnson. His father upon death left him penniless with an inheritance of twenty pounds. The next thirty years for him were a long struggle against poverty. He became an incurable hypochondriac. A deep melancholy gripped him. It was under these circumstances that he began his literary career with Gentleman's magazine. In 1738 he published his poem "London", with which he became an unknown but notable poet. Slowly he earned a name for himself and it was in these circumstances that Warburton praised him, which was no small thing... middle of paper ......)5. Johnson, Samuel. The Plan of an English Dictionary, 1747. Edited by: Jack Lynch. Downloaded December 22 https://andromeda.rutgers.edu/jlynch/Texts/plan.html6. Johnson, Samuel. The Dictionary of the English Language, Adobe Acrobat Professional Dictionary ofeng101johnuoft Pdf. Downloaded December 27, 20137. Lane, Margaret (1975), Samuel Johnson & his World, New York: Harper &Row Publishers, ISBN O-O6-O12496-2.8. Lynch, Jack. John's preface to the dictionary. Downloaded December 22 Andromeda.rutgers.edu/-jlynch/Texts/preface.html9. Nicholls, Dr. Graham. Johnson reads for the Dictionary, paper delivered at the AGM of the Johnson Society at the Guildhall, Litchfield, Wednesday 21 March 2001.10. Reddick, Allen. The Making of Johnson's Dictionary 1746-1773 Cambridge University Press, 1990. Print.11. Smith, Adam. “Review of the Edinburgh Review of Johnson's Dictionary, 1755.