Noah Webster was an American lexicographer, whose books on grammar and spelling and American Dictionary of the English Language standardized the spelling of American English.
Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758 in West Hartford, Connecticut to a politically prominent family.
He served in the Connecticut Militia during the American Revolutionary War.
Webster graduated from Yale College in 1778. He passed the bar examination after studying law but was unable to find work as a lawyer. Instead, Webster taught school for several years and in his spare time wrote a series of educational books,
During his first career as a schoolteacher at the time of the American Revolution, Webster was concerned that most of his students' textbooks came from England. So in 1783 he published his own American text, A Grammatical Institute of the English Language. In the "Blue-Backed Speller," as it was popularly known, words were broken into syllables, which helped students learn pronunciation. It was the preferred English text in schools through 19th century America and is one of the best-selling books of all time.
Despite the fact that Webster borrowed shamelessly from mid 18th century works Thomas Dilworth's New Guide to the English Tongue and Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language, he was concerned that his Grammatical Institute might be pirated. Webster's efforts led to the creation of the first federal copyright laws in 1790.
Later, Webster lobbied for an extended copyright law. He wrote "By this bill the term of copy-right is secured for 28 years, with the right of renewal … for 14 years more. If this should become law, I shall be much benefited." The new federal copyright law was passed and remained in effect until 1909.
Noah Webster was a follower of George Washington. In fact, he was such a strong supporter of the first president, that Alexander Hamilton lent him over a thousand dollars to move to New York City to found a Federalist Party newspaper.
In 1793 Webster founded one of New York City's first daily newspapers, American Minerva, which he edited for four years. Webster was one of the first to make the daily newspaper a political force in America.
Noah Webster's Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, a forerunner of An American Dictionary, was published in 1806. In his dictionary, he chose s over c in words like "defense," changed the re to er in words like "center," and dropped one of the Ls in "traveler." Webster's main reason for this was to help children learn to read and write.
Webster's Compendious Dictionary of the English Language sparked a "war of the dictionaries" with rival lexicographer Joseph Worcester. However, Worcester's Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory English Dictionary didn't stand a chance. Webster's work, with 5,000 words not included in British dictionaries and with definitions based on the usage of American writers, soon became the recognized authority.
Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) in two volumes was the first dictionary to give comprehensive coverage of American usage, and his name survives in the many dictionaries produced by the American publishing house.
Webster used only one proof-reader while working on An American Dictionary of the English Language. He wrote it all himself, including the etymologies, which required that he learn 28 languages. Webster was plagued by debt to fund the project.
G. & C. Merriam Co. bought the rights to the dictionary in 1843, which is why many dictionaries have Merriam-Webster in their name.
Webster is credited for introducing such distinctive American spellings as "color," "humor", and "center" (for British "colour," "humour," and "centre"). However many of his changes never stuck, such as medicine=medicin, ache=ake, soup=soop, tongue=tung, women=wimmen, and weather=wether.
Webster and his family moved to Amherst, Massachusetts in 1812, where he helped to found Amherst College. In 1822 they moved back to New Haven. Their impressive New Haven dwelling is now a part of Henry Ford's Greenfield Village.
Webster was converted in the Second Great Awakening. His need of Christ having come strong upon him, he was unable to study. "I closed my books, yielded to the influence which could not be resisted or mistaken and was led by a spontaneous impulse to repentance, prayer and entire submission of myself to my maker and redeemer." This was followed by a sense of peace.
Following his conversion experience, Webster became an orthodox Calvinist and an ardent Congregationalist.
Webster subscribed to the biblical account of the origin of language, believing that all languages derived from Chaldee, an Aramaic dialect.
In 1833 Webster published his own edition of the Bible, updating the vocabulary of the King James Version and cleansing it of any words that he thought might be considered "offensive, especially for females."
Webster died on May 28, 1843, a few days after he had completed revising an appendix to the second edition of his American Language Dictionary.
In 1966, Webster's restored birthplace and childhood home in West Hartford was reopened as a museum.
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| Noah Webster painted by Samuel F. B. Morse |
EARLY LIFE
Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758 in West Hartford, Connecticut to a politically prominent family.
He served in the Connecticut Militia during the American Revolutionary War.
Webster graduated from Yale College in 1778. He passed the bar examination after studying law but was unable to find work as a lawyer. Instead, Webster taught school for several years and in his spare time wrote a series of educational books,
CAREER
During his first career as a schoolteacher at the time of the American Revolution, Webster was concerned that most of his students' textbooks came from England. So in 1783 he published his own American text, A Grammatical Institute of the English Language. In the "Blue-Backed Speller," as it was popularly known, words were broken into syllables, which helped students learn pronunciation. It was the preferred English text in schools through 19th century America and is one of the best-selling books of all time.
Despite the fact that Webster borrowed shamelessly from mid 18th century works Thomas Dilworth's New Guide to the English Tongue and Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language, he was concerned that his Grammatical Institute might be pirated. Webster's efforts led to the creation of the first federal copyright laws in 1790.
Later, Webster lobbied for an extended copyright law. He wrote "By this bill the term of copy-right is secured for 28 years, with the right of renewal … for 14 years more. If this should become law, I shall be much benefited." The new federal copyright law was passed and remained in effect until 1909.
Noah Webster was a follower of George Washington. In fact, he was such a strong supporter of the first president, that Alexander Hamilton lent him over a thousand dollars to move to New York City to found a Federalist Party newspaper.
In 1793 Webster founded one of New York City's first daily newspapers, American Minerva, which he edited for four years. Webster was one of the first to make the daily newspaper a political force in America.
DICTIONARY
Noah Webster's Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, a forerunner of An American Dictionary, was published in 1806. In his dictionary, he chose s over c in words like "defense," changed the re to er in words like "center," and dropped one of the Ls in "traveler." Webster's main reason for this was to help children learn to read and write.
Webster's Compendious Dictionary of the English Language sparked a "war of the dictionaries" with rival lexicographer Joseph Worcester. However, Worcester's Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory English Dictionary didn't stand a chance. Webster's work, with 5,000 words not included in British dictionaries and with definitions based on the usage of American writers, soon became the recognized authority.
Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) in two volumes was the first dictionary to give comprehensive coverage of American usage, and his name survives in the many dictionaries produced by the American publishing house.
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| Handwritten drafts of dictionary entries by Webster |
Webster used only one proof-reader while working on An American Dictionary of the English Language. He wrote it all himself, including the etymologies, which required that he learn 28 languages. Webster was plagued by debt to fund the project.
G. & C. Merriam Co. bought the rights to the dictionary in 1843, which is why many dictionaries have Merriam-Webster in their name.
Webster is credited for introducing such distinctive American spellings as "color," "humor", and "center" (for British "colour," "humour," and "centre"). However many of his changes never stuck, such as medicine=medicin, ache=ake, soup=soop, tongue=tung, women=wimmen, and weather=wether.
PERSONAL LIFE
Noah Webster first met with "Becca" Greenleaf (1766–1847) in 1787 while both were in Philadelphia. He had traveled to the city for the Constitutional Convention, while Becca, originally from Boston, was visiting her recently wedded sister. Webster documented his encounters with Rebecca Greenleaf in his diary. At first, he affectionately referred to her as "Sweet Miss Greenleaf," then as "the agreeable Miss Greenleaf," and ultimately as "the lovely Becca."
Their marriage took place on October 26, 1789 in New Haven, Connecticut, and, by all accounts, theirs was a joyful and affectionate union. In one of his love letters to Becca, Webster expressed, "Permit me to assure you that your esteem - your friendship - is now my only happiness, and your happiness the great object of my pursuit."
Rebecca steadfastly stood by her husband's side throughout the 26-year journey of crafting An American Dictionary of the English Language. She bore him eight children, (five daughters, three sons) with seven reaching adulthood. Her role extended to overseeing their residences, beginning with the former home of Benedict Arnold in New Haven.
Rebecca managed the household responsibilities and cared for the children during Noah Webster's extended absences, as he traveled abroad to conduct etymological research. Even when he was at home, Webster had his office walls soundproofed to shield himself from the bustling household. Patient and supportive, Rebecca allowed Noah Webster to relentlessly pursue his scholarly endeavors.
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| Rebecca Greenleaf Webster, wife of Noah Webster |
Webster and his family moved to Amherst, Massachusetts in 1812, where he helped to found Amherst College. In 1822 they moved back to New Haven. Their impressive New Haven dwelling is now a part of Henry Ford's Greenfield Village.
Webster was converted in the Second Great Awakening. His need of Christ having come strong upon him, he was unable to study. "I closed my books, yielded to the influence which could not be resisted or mistaken and was led by a spontaneous impulse to repentance, prayer and entire submission of myself to my maker and redeemer." This was followed by a sense of peace.
Following his conversion experience, Webster became an orthodox Calvinist and an ardent Congregationalist.
Webster subscribed to the biblical account of the origin of language, believing that all languages derived from Chaldee, an Aramaic dialect.
 |
| Noah Webster in an 1833 portrait by James Herring |
In 1833 Webster published his own edition of the Bible, updating the vocabulary of the King James Version and cleansing it of any words that he thought might be considered "offensive, especially for females."
DEATH AND LEGACY
Webster died on May 28, 1843, a few days after he had completed revising an appendix to the second edition of his American Language Dictionary.
In 1966, Webster's restored birthplace and childhood home in West Hartford was reopened as a museum.
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