The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [756]
Elphinston, James (1721–1809), educationalist and advocate of spelling reform; correspondent of S.J.; author of Principles of the English Language Digested (1766) and Inglish Orthography Epittomized (1790); considerable influence on twentieth-century philologists including Jespersen, Muller, Wyld and Rohlfing; published everything post-1787 in his reformed orthography: 117, 118, 125, 279, 380, 425, 663, 859 n. a
Elwall, Edward (1676–1744), Seventh-Day Baptist and religious controversialist; author of The True Testimony (1724) and A Declaration Against George, King of Great Britain (1732); colourful and eccentric figure; S.J. accused of misquoting: 348, 395
Erasmus, Desiderius (1466?-1536), Dutch humanist, linguist, theologian and scholar; author of The Praise of Folly (1511): 564 n. a, 958
Erskine, Hon. Andrew (1740–93), poet; lieutenant in the 71st regiment of foot (1759); contributed to A Collection of Original Poems by… Scots Gentlemen (1760); correspondent of J.B. (1760–63), published as Letters between the Honourable Andrew Erskine and James Boswell, Esq. (1763); favoured burlesque and parody in manner of Swift and Gay; committed suicide after bouts of illness and depression: 217, 604
Erskine, Hon. Thomas, afterwards Lord Erskine (1750–1823), Lord Chancellor; brother of Hon. Henry and the Earl of Buchan; convivial member of literary circles including S.J. and J.B.; defended Lord Gordon (1781); intimate of Fox and R. B. Sheridan; enthusiast for the French Revolution; Order of the Thistle (1815); unorthodox but theatrical and successful advocate: 352, 353,354
Erskine, Sir Henry (1710–65), army officer and politician; captain in the 1st Royal Scots (1743); MP for the Ayr burghs (1749–54); friend and confidante of Bute; surveyor of the King’s private roads (1757–60); promoted Major-General (1759); secretary of the Order of the Thistle (1765); promoted Lieutenant General (1765): 205
Euripides (c. 480–406 bc); Attic tragedian: 44, 45, 59, 355, 764, 936
Eutropius (fl. AD 364–78), historian and epitomizer: 58, 386
Evans, John (fl. 1716): 25 n. b
Fairfax, Edward (d. 1635), poet: 782 n. a, 976 n. a
Falconer, Revd William, a Nonjuring bishop: 724
Falkland, Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount (i6io?~43); polician and author; moderate royalist and constitutionalist; killed at the battle of Newbury (20 September 1643) after recklessly exposing himself to enemy fire: 475, 1005
Falmouth, George Evelyn Boscawen, 3rd Viscount (1758–1808): 702
Farmer, Dr Richard (1735–97), master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge; literary scholar; author of An Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare (ij6j); member of the Club, and provider of assistance to S.J. in his own literary and scholarly projects: 197, 319, 538, 754, 772, 843
Farquhar, George (1678–1707), playwright; established fame with The Constant Couple (1699), running for fifty-three nights in London; attacked Aristotle’s unities in a Discourse upon Comedy; secured place in posterity with later works The Recruiting Officer (1706) and The Beaux’ Stratagem (1707); admired by S.J.: 767
Faulkner, George (1699?–1775), printer and bookseller; published Swift’s Works (1735), the Irish edition of Pope’s Works (1736) and a Dublin edition of Richardson’s Clarissa (1748); friend of the 4th Earl of Chesterfield; had the largestpub-lishing output of the century in Dublin: 173, 342
Fawkener, Sir Everard (1684–1758), merchant and diplomatist; formed a memorable friendship with Voltaire – dedicatee of Zaire (1733); ambassador to the Sublime Porte in Constantinople (1735–42); secretary to the Duke of Cumberland (1745–58); joint Paymaster-General: 103 n. a
Fawkes, Revd Francis (1720–77), poet and translator; chaplain at Bramham, Yorkshire; translated Anacreon (1760); achieved a high reputation as