Benjamin Martin

Lugar: Worplesdon

Nascido: 1705

Morte: 1782

Biografia:

Benjamin Martin was an English lexicographer and maker of scientific instruments who lived in the United Kingdom from 1705 to 1782. He is best known for compiling one of the early English dictionaries, the Lingua Britannica Reformata (1749), which was a significant contribution to the development of the English language.

Early Life and Education

Martin was born in Worplesdon, Surrey, and began his life as a ploughboy. However, he later became a teacher and eventually moved to Fleet Street, near The Royal Society, where his admired Newton would often lecture. This proximity to the Royal Society had a significant impact on Martin's work, as he was an early champion of the Newtonian system.

Career and Contributions

Martin published several works, including Bibliotheca Technologica in 1737, which was a survey of natural philosophy in 25 sub-headings. He also introduced the concept of fundamental science to English through his book A New and Compendious System of Optics. In addition to his work as a lexicographer, Martin lectured on science and made various optical instruments such as Hadley's quadrant and microscopes. Martin's business prospered, and he became known as a spectacle maker. He continued to lecture on natural philosophy and published Martin's Magazine from 1755 to 1764. This periodical was formally known as the General Magazine of Arts and Sciences and provided subscribers with an encyclopedia's worth of knowledge.

The Dictionary

In 1749, Martin published the Lingua Britannica Reformata, Or, A New English Dictionary, which incorporated a largely intact copy of Nathan Bailey's Universal Dictionary of 1721. This dictionary was a significant improvement on earlier dictionaries and laid out a detailed set of objectives for future lexicographers.

• It was universal in scope
• It explained the etymologies of words
• It had a simpler system of spelling
• It provided a clearer guide to pronunciation

Martin's dictionary also pre-saged Johnson in that he laid out a detailed set of objectives for future lexicographers. While his etymologies were often inconsistent and tended to err in favour of Latin origins, his work was an improvement on earlier dictionaries.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1781, Martin went bankrupt, and a few years later, he attempted suicide. He died on February 9, 1782, at the age of 77. Despite his tragic end, Martin's contributions to the development of the English language and his work as a lexicographer remain significant. For more information on Benjamin Martin and his works, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Benjamin-Martin. To learn more about the history of the English language and the development of dictionaries, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Martin_(lexicographer). Important works by Martin include the Lingua Britannica Reformata (1749), Bibliotheca Technologica, and A New and Compendious System of Optics. His contributions to the development of the English language remain significant, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by scholars and linguists today.