Johnson's Dictionary Published: The English Language Defined
Samuel Johnson published A Dictionary of the English Language on April 15, 1755, after nine years of work. He completed it with only six assistants, while the French Academy's comparable dictionary required forty scholars and fifty-five years. Johnson's dictionary contained 42,773 entries with 114,000 illustrative quotations drawn from English literature. His definitions often revealed his personality: he defined "oats" as "a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people," and "lexicographer" as "a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge." The dictionary standardized English spelling and usage for over 150 years until the Oxford English Dictionary began publication in 1884. Johnson received 1,500 guineas for the entire project.
April 15, 1755
271 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on April 15
Pope Stephen III convened the Lateran Council to formally reject the iconoclastic decrees issued by the Council of Hieria fifteen years earlier. By anathematizi…
Robert Guiscard captured Bari, ending five centuries of Byzantine rule in southern Italy. This surrender forced the Eastern Roman Empire to retreat entirely fro…
A river of blood ran red at the Terek as Timur's vultures circled Sarai's ashes. The Golden Horde's capital didn't just fall; it vanished under fire, leaving on…
French cavalry and artillery destroyed the English longbow formations at Formigny on April 15, 1450, killing or capturing nearly the entire 4,000-man English fo…
Swedish infantry didn't just fight; they marched in perfect lockstep while musketeers fired volleys that turned the mud red. Gustavus Adolphus led them at Lütze…
Thousands of starving peasants and hidden Christians held out for months inside Hara Castle. When the Tokugawa forces finally stormed the walls, they didn't jus…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.