In 1806 a man named Noah Webster published Websters dictionary. His work became so widely used that people began referring to all dictionaries as Websters dictionary.
Noah Webster who eventually created Websters dictionary was born in 1758 in Hartford. His family had lived there since colonial times. His father who lived from 1722-1813 was a farmer. He was a descendant of Connecticut Governor John Webster. Noah’s mother could trace her roots back to the governor of Plymouth colony.
When Noah was 16 he began attending Yale College. At this time America was fighting against Britian for freedom. He served in the Connecticut militia which could have gotten him killed, thus stopping Websters dictionary before it had ever been started.
When he was 20 Webster wanted to earn a law degree. He taught school to earn money for his education. He soon grew tired of the legal profession. So he returned to teaching. He set up small schools that didn’t do well.
In 1789 he marred a fairly prominent woman. Despite being welcome by the upper class, he wasn’t wealthy. Alexander Hamilton loaned him $1500 to begin a newspaper in New York. While in New York he took an interest in publishing. This was the true beginning of his path to Websters dictionary. He published text books while writing for his newspaper. In 1898 he served a term in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
He realized the conditions in the schools were poor. Students of different ages were packed into overcrowded rooms. Teachers didn’t know very much about teaching. There weren’t many supplies. Webster decided that American children should learn from American books. He addressed this by publishing three volumes for children – a reader, a grammar book and a spelling book. He believed the English language needed to be rescued from English grammar that was too difficult and outdated. He held that the language should come from the people rather than being dictated to them.
This was the source of Websters dictionary. He revised the dictionary again and again. Webster’s name and works were sold to the Merriam brothers after Noah’s death. Today most dictionaries use the term Webster because it’s so well known.
Now you know the history of Websters dictionary.
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