Samuel Johnson (1649-1703)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Johnson was a political writer, sometimes called "the Whig" to distinguish him from the later acclaimed author and lexicographer
of the same name. Of humble extraction, he was educated at St. Paul's School and Trinity College, Cambridge
, and took orders. He attacked James II
in Julian the Apostate
(1682), and was illegally deprived of his orders, flogged and imprisoned. He continued, however, his attacks on the Government by pamphlets, and did much to influence the public mind in favour of the "Glorious Revolution
" of 1688. Dryden gave him a place in Absalom and Achitophel
as "Benjochanan." After the Revolution he was restored to his orders and received a pension, but considered himself insufficiently rewarded by a Deanery, which he declined. He was married for many years, suffered from many illnesses.
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
of the same name. Of humble extraction, he was educated at St. Paul's School and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, and took orders. He attacked James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
in Julian the Apostate
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
(1682), and was illegally deprived of his orders, flogged and imprisoned. He continued, however, his attacks on the Government by pamphlets, and did much to influence the public mind in favour of the "Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
" of 1688. Dryden gave him a place in Absalom and Achitophel
Absalom and Achitophel
Absalom and Achitophel is a landmark poetic political satire by John Dryden. The poem exists in two parts. The first part, of 1681, is undoubtedly by Dryden...
as "Benjochanan." After the Revolution he was restored to his orders and received a pension, but considered himself insufficiently rewarded by a Deanery, which he declined. He was married for many years, suffered from many illnesses.