Samuel Johnson is arguably Lichfield's most famous son, though I consider Erasmus Darwin competes for the title most famous inhabitant.
If you only considered the tough circumstances of Johnson's life, you would conclude that it was unhappy and fraught. But that was not the case, despite many trials and tribulations, that started with his birth.
Johnson was born on the 18th September 1709 (Happy 307th birthday!) and was sickly from the start. His parents lived above their bookshop in Breadmarket Street (still there and open to visits). Although coming from fairly wealthy families, the Johnsons were poor at managing their finances, a trait that followed through Johnson for most of his life.
He contracted scrofula when very small and it affected him for the rest of his life. It left him scarred, afflicted, deaf in one ear and blind in one eye. He was a sickly child and spent much of his time sat on his mothers knee as she read to him from the Common Prayer Book. All of this tutoring and the heavy words sank in and Johnson started school at the age of four.
His mannerisms scared many people. He had tics (it is now believed he suffered from Tourette's Syndrome) but showed such early promise that he went to grammar school aged just seven. He excelled at Latin and this resulted in him going to the upper school at just nine.
The family continued to languish financially. Johnson was moved around the family and country trying to maintain his education, but he was forced back home and existed by stitching books in his father's shop. But he also devoured the books and his mind was full of thoughts and words.
At the age of 19 the family inherited enough money to send Johnson to Pembroke College, Oxford, but for only just over a year. Forced to leave Oxford because of mounting debts, the lack of a degree haunted him for the next twenty years or more. He was eventually granted an honorary degree, but not until 1755.
In 1735, at the age of 25, he married the widow of his close friend. 'Tetty' was 45 and had three children, and supported him until her own wealth ran out. The lack of a degree meant he was unable to gain occupation as a teacher and eventually he opened his own school - Edial Hall School - but it had only three pupils and closed after just one year.
One of the pupils was a young David Garrick, soon to become the most famous actor of his day. He persuaded Johnson to walk with him to London where relatives of Garrick offered them accommodation. Garrick continued his rise to stardom and Johnson began his literary career.
Despite his oddities (or maybe because of them) Johnson was an ever present at the dining tables of the rich and famous. His wit became legendary and the breadth of his knowledge was astounding. Tetty was able to join him in London, but they lived an insecure life. She sadly became ill, returned home and died in 1752.
Johnson was frequently in debt, but kept trying. He eventually completed his famed dictionary, but it was not until 1762 when he met the young King George III, who promptly provided him with a £300 a year pension, that he finally climbed out from under financial pressure.
In 1763 he met the 22 year old James Boswell in a bookshop. The two began a friendship that lasted thirty years, and Boswell's writings and accounts of their travels and convivialities is what has provided the world with most of what we know about Johnson.
Johnson often returned to Lichfield and loved the peace of the Market Place, despite the fact that so many people died at the stake within yards of his home. His statue depicts him sitting facing the house. Behind him (but facing away) is James Boswell. He often spoke of the humanity and the friendliness of the people of Lichfield (again forgetting those executions).
Samuel Johnson died on the 13th December 1784, in London.
Dr Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson birthplace
www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk
