Boswell was undoubtedly filled with admiration for Doctor Johnson and plied him with questions during their Meetings and busily recorded his responses in depth in his Journal. However, it would be true to say that he would not be the only person to catch Boswell’s attention.

Although Doctor Johnson did not warm to many people, he did have a number of friends in addition to Boswell and Tom Davies who had introduced them to each other and so was not entirely friendless either.

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Mr. Henry Thrale (1724 or 1730-1781), owner of the Anchor Brewery in Southwark and Member of Parliament (M.P.), and his wife, Hester (1741-1821) were friends of Doctor Johnson and held great significance for him.

Henry & Hester Thrale and the Anchor Brewery, sold in 1781 and renamed Barclay Perkins Brewery

Doctor Johnson had been introduced to Henry Thrale in January 1765 by Arthur Murphy and soon became great friends with him and his wife who treated as a member of the family.  Later, he moved in with The Thrales where he remained for the next seventeen years until the death of Mr. Thrale in 1781.  He was given his own apartment at The Thrale’s Southwark Brewery House and at  Streatham Park Estate.  Streatham Park became the focal point of The Thrales’ social life and was a country retreat for Doctor Johnson and a host of other members of their intellectual and artistic circle.

Streatham Park by Edward Walford (1823-1897), 1880; the House was sold in 1825 and demolished in 1863.

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It was while living in the home of The Thrales that Doctor Johnson completed and published his writings, The Plays of William Shakespeare, in Eight Volumes in October 1765.

Also in 1765, Doctor Johnson was awarded the degree of LL.D. from Trinity College Dublin.  Although he never referred to himself as Doctor, his friends always employed the title.

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In the summer of 1774, Dr. Johnson made a trip to Wales together with The Thrales and their daughter Queeney.  The major reason for the journey was that Mrs Thrale wanted to take possession of her family estate of Bachygraig in the Vale of Clwyd.  She also wanted to show Doctor Johnson the beauty of North Wales where she lived when young.  The tour lasted for over two months during which each kept a diary of their observations.  Although neither intended their writings to be published, they appeared in print in 1995.

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On 25 July 1784, Mrs. Thrales married Gabriel Mario Piozzi, an Italian music teacher. This caused a rift with her daughter, Queenie, and Doctor Johnson, which was only perfunctorily mended shortly before his death later in the same year.

Gabriel Mario Piozzi

During the years that Doctor Johnson lived in her home, Mrs. Thrale maintained a Journal, and this, together with her correspondence of the time, formed an important source of information on him, which she used as the basis of her Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, published in 1786 under the name of Mrs. Hester Thrales Piozzi.  Her account of Doctor Johnson’s life helps complete what some consider to be the biased view of his life provided in Boswell’s biography, not published until 1791.

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Doctor Johnson said of Mrs. Hester Thrale that ……. her colloquial wit was a fountain of perpetual flow.

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The Thrales were not, of course, the only friends of Doctor Johnson.  He was liked by some and, perhaps even loved by a few, however he was certainly admired by many, and the number of his admirers has continued to grow over the years.

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In 1756, Doctor Johnson was arrested for an outstanding debt of almost £6.  Being without funds at the time, he wrote to the writer and publisher Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) who sent him six Guineas.  Following this act of kindness, the two men became firm friends.

Samuel Richardson painted by Joseph Highmore (1692-1780)

A little later, Doctor Johnson met and befriended the painter, Sir Joshua Reynolds (1713-1792), who so impressed him that he declared the painter to be almost the only man whom I call a friend.

Portrait of Doctor Johnson painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds

Sir Joshua Reynolds, self portrait

In addition, Doctor Johnson was very friendly with Bennet Langton (c 1736 – 1801) who was a scholar and an admirer.  Mr. Langton had wormed his way into a meeting with Doctor Johnson.  The pair got along well and this led to a long friendship.  He, together with Sir Joshua Reynolds and Doctor Johnson, was a founder member of The Literary Club  in 1764.

Bennet Langton painted by Carl Frederik von Breda 1759-1818)

Doctor Johnson met Arthur Murphy (1727-1805) in 1754 after Murphy came to see him about the republishing of the Rambler No. 190, and the two became friends. 

Arthur Murphy painted by Sir Nathaniel Dance Holland (1735-1811) in 1777 

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Also in 1754, the  poet, Anna Williams (1706-1783), took up residence in Doctor Johnson’s home.  Mistress Williams was poor and was losing her sight, as a result of Cataracts.  Doctor Johnson paid for surgery in the hope of rectify her condition and alleviate her on-coming blindness, but unfortunately, the operation was not successful.  Following this, she became Doctor Johnson’s housekeeper and companion and remained so for over thirty years.  Despite her failing sight, Mistress Williams was able to sew and to publish her translation from the French of the life of the Julian the Apostate (331-363: Roman Emperor from 361 to 363) in addition to maintaining his household.  Evidently, he was more than fond of Mistress Williams and was sure to take tea in her company each evening and was not above being playful with her!

Taking Tea

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Doctor Johnson was known to be kind to many poor and down-on-their-luck people.  He often had them come and live in his home and often gave them money even when he was on the verge of poverty himself.

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OTHER FRIENDS of JAMES BOSWELL