LEADING EVENTS OF JOHNSON'S LIFE. 1709. Born at Lichfield, September 18th. 1712. Taken to London to be touched by Queen Anne, to cure his scrofula. 1716. Goes to school at Lichfield. 1728. Enters Pembroke College, Oxford, October 31st. 1731. His father dies, December, leaving him very poor. 1732. Becomes an usher at Market Bosworth School. 1733. Removes to Birmingham, where he supports himself by literary work. 1734, At Lichfield and Birmingham, trying to earn his living by lit1735. S erature. 1736. Marries a widow, Mrs. Porter, of Birmingham, July 9th. Opens a boarding-school at Edial. 1737. Goes to London, in company with David Garrick, March 2d. Returns to Lichfield in the summer, and finishes his tragedy of "Irene." Takes his wife to London in the autumn. 1738. Becomes a writer in the "Gentleman's Magazine." Publishes his "London." 1744. Publishes the "Life of Richard Savage." 1747. Publishes his "Plan for a Dictionary of the English Language." 1749. Publishes his "Vanity of Human Wishes" in January. Garrick produces "Irene" at Drury Lane Theatre, February 6th. 1750. Begins to publish "The Rambler." 1752. His wife dies. 1754. Obtains the degree of Master of Arts from Oxford University. 1755. Publishes his Dictionary. 1756. Issues proposals for an edition of Shakspeare. 1759. His mother dies. He writes "Rasselas." 1762. Obtains a pension of £300 a year. 1765. Created Doctor of Laws by Dublin University. Makes the acquaintance of the Thrales. Publishes his edition of Shak speare. 1773. Visits the Scottish Hebrides with Boswell. 1775. Receives his diploma as Doctor of Laws from Oxford University. Goes for a few weeks to France with the Thrales. |