Samuel Johnson and his famous letter The day June the 18th of 1746 is a milestone in the history of English dictionary. On this day, a poverty-stricken scholar signed an impressive contract with a publisher in London. He decided to compile the first English dictionary on his own. This extraordinary intellectual is Samuel Johnson, a great British poet, essayist, literary critic, biographer and lexicographer.Why do I call the contract impressive? For the compiling job is too trying and arduous
