After Tetty died in 1752, Samuel Johnson stayed on in Gough Square with a succession of cats and a collection of oddities, lodgers and servants, who included his young black manservant and protegé Frank Barber, a widow from Lichfield, a spinster poet who had gone blind when a cataract operation failed, and the copyists and secretaries, up to six at a time, who worked standing up at a long desk in the garret. [1]
On this day in 1735, author, poet, critic, lexicographer, and writer of the first English dictionary, Samuel Johnson married the widow Elizabeth “Tetty” Porter. The groom was 25 and the bride was 21 years his senior. The wedding was held at St Werburgh’s Church, Derby.
During 1732-33 Johnson had befriended Harry and Elizabeth Porter and often visited their home before Harry died in 1734. Elizabeth, in the description of Johnson’s friends was buxom, blowsy, excessively painted, and given to drink; and on first meeting Johnson, she is reported to have said to her daughter Lucy that “(Johnson) is the most sensible man I ever met.” Less than a year later, Johnson and Elizabeth married. Although their respective families were not enthusiastic about the match, Johnson insisted that the marriage was “a love match on both sides.”
Tetty’s considerable fortune of over £600 was invested in setting up Edial Hall, a private school near Lichfield. After its failure, in 1737 Johnson moved to London, where she joined him later that year.
Almost penniless, in 1746, Johnson signed a contract to compile a dictionary of the English Language which took seven years to complete. First published in April 1755, A Dictionary of the English Language is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. Johnson produced several revised editions during his life.
In later life Elizabeth suffered from ill health, exacerbated by alcohol and opiate medicines. She died on 25 March 1752 aged 63 and is buried in Bromley Parish Church.
Dr Johnson died on 13 December 1784, aged 75.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
Susannah Fullerton: Samuel Johnson is born
Susannah Fullerton: Samuel Johnson agrees to compile a dictionary
Susannah Fullerton: Samuel Johnson publishes his dictionary
Susannah Fullerton: Samuel Johnson dies
Susannah Fullerton: The Johnson Society of Australia
Susannah Fullerton: A clean shirt for the ladies … Dr Johnson and women of Scotland, a free video talk
Susannah Fullerton: Dr Johnson & His Dictionary, a video talk
A Dictionary of the English Language by Dr Samuel Johnson online
24 Weird and Wonderful Entries in Dr Johnson’s Dictionary
The Johnson Society of Australia