The Great Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson aka Dr Johnson or 'Dictionary Johnson'
portrait by his close friend and co-founder with Johnson of 'The Club' Sir Joshua Reynolds

We all have our favorites and Dr. Johnson is the man I most respect and admire.  While he was a truly great man,  my deep affection is based on a man overcoming great adversity to realize his vast talents and, following the public acclaim and  prominence, how he then conducted himself to the benefit of others which I find so noble and inspiring.


This pic from the pre-opening party of the newly re-opened Red Lion Pub. This portrait, which GSL donated and will be re-framing with something more befittingly dignified, was at the hostess's podium under a bright light greeting everyone so I asked the hostess to please step away from the light to offer a better pic. After snapping this very poor pic, I asked the charming young lady if she knew of  "Samuel Johnson?.....Dr Johnson??......Dictionary Johnson???"
There is much work to be done.

All book lovers of my generation and older are at least vaguely familiar with the encounter that changed the face of English Literature. On May 16, 1763 in Davies' Book Shop in Covent Garden, a young Scot by the name of James Boswell finally fulfilled his great ambition of meeting the great Dr. Johnson.  Boswell had recently completed his Grand Tour and in his quest to collect 'Great Men' had recently met both Rousseau and Voltaire who were impressed with the eldest son of Lord Auchinleck but now he sought the ultimate prize...an acquaintanceship with Dr. Johnson. Johnson was well known to have a prejudice against Scots and, being in a foul mood, gave Boswell a rather rough reception which wounded the young upstart. The proprietor Davies later smoothed things over so that Dr Johnson and his 'Bozzy' soon became great friends and decades later Boswell bequeathed to posterity what is still considered the greatest biography of all time: The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D

In the Red Lion, on permanent loan, is an entire shelf on Johnson including "The Life..." in 3 leather bound volumes- gilt edged and moire endsheeted on acid free paper from the GSL private library


To briefly summarize, Johnson came from humble, if fortuitous, origins as the son of an unsuccessful book merchant in the town of Litchfield and suffered from scrofula and what many modern scholars now assume to be Tourette's Syndrome. He grew to be quite tall-over 6 feet, thick set, and gangily long of limb; he was considered nearly a giant in those days. Johnson was from an early age considered ugly in appearance and of fearsome temperament. Johnson's prodigious intellect allowed him to excel at Oxford though he ran out of money after two years and had to leave without a degree (he was later awarded an honorary degree hence 'Dr Johnson'). After leaving Oxford, he came home to Litchfield and started a school which failed after a short time.  Among his students was David Garrick who would later make his way to London and become the greatest theatrical figure of the age.

Celebrated actor David Garrick. Portrait by Thomas Gainsborough
Garrick, like Johnson, was from Litchfield and a student at Johnson's school for boys.

Johnson married a much older widow who he left behind in Litchfield to make his mark in London (much like Shakespeare). Johnson over time distinguished himself as a great essayist in pamphlets such as The Rambler and the London booksellers commissioned him to write biographies on literary figures and to write what was essentially the first dictionary of the English language.  He made quite a name for himself with the high quality of his literary output; the Dictionary alone made him famous throughout the English speaking world, and his afternoons and evenings spent in taverns or drawing rooms were chronicled with great interest as he was supremely gifted in the art of conversation and didn't suffer fools gladly...he was sometimes described as a "virtuous bully".  His withering rejoinders were the talk of London the following day and soon made their way to every corner of the British Isles and across the Atlantic. When Boswell had Johnson join him on a tour of the Hebrides, they were astonished to find that at every port of call the entire population of that island or town turned out to greet them and see the great Dr Johnson.

James Boswell aka "Bozzie"about the time he first met Johnson.
portrait by George Willson 1765

What I most love about Dr Johnson isn't just the fact that none other than Harold Bloom (among many others) consider Johnson "the greatest literary critic in the English language or any other language", nor that he presided over a club of highly accomplished men who met periodically in taverns and whose collective achievements have been called by social scientist Charles Murray- the greatest period of human advancement (he refers to this period as "Johnson's London") since Ancient Rome, or that after Shakespeare he's the most quoted figure in the English language and considered it's greatest  conversationalist. No, what I most admire about Johnson wasn't just that he was a great man in areas of intense personal interest but also lived out a life little boys, such as I, were taught to lead by our mothers...that you are to behave as a gentleman (in the American sense of the word), act chivalrously towards women, and if you have the means to do so--help the less fortunate.

What is too often overlooked about Johnson was his championing the great women intellectuals of the day. The original Bluestockings loved having Dr Johnson in attendance at these gatherings of men of affairs and women of fashion and learning. The venerable Elizabeth Montagu was often the hostess with the formidable Elizabeth Carter urging the younger set "not to dare welcome in that foe to uplifting conversation....whist".  Johnson often urged these women to speak on issues he knew they could distinguish themselves and provide enlightenment to others.  Of Ms Carter, Johnson said she was the greatest Greek scholar in the land (and Johnson himself was quite formidable in Greek and Latin) which she must have greatly appreciated since women weren't then able to get a formal degree that announced their expertise.  Women such as Hannah More, Fanny Burney, Charlotte Lennox, and others Johnson praised to the skies wherever he went including to the men at his famous Club.

Elizabeth Montagu aka "Queen of the Bluestockings" Society hostess and great friend of  Dr Johnson. Johnson was a frequent guest in her drawing room and put the word out on the Bluestockings impressive intellectual attainments.
sketch of Mrs. Montagu by unknown artist

Johnson never had much money nor desire for it beyond being able to live a dignified existence.  His dress was usually described as slovenly.  One of the society hostesses who grew quite close to Johnson was Mrs.Thrale who set up a suite for him at the Thrale's estate in Streatham Park.  Johnson was later awarded a pension by the Crown of £300 per annum that provided for a very modest existence but which he considered "great splendor".  With his accommodations at The Thrales he was only home a few nights a week so he turned over his personal lodgings just off Fleet Street to a motley crew of misfits, to hear Boswell describe them, which included among others, an impoverished physician to the poor, Robert Levet, and a nearly destitute and cantankerous old blind spinster, Ms. Anna Williams, who always waited up for Dr Johnson late into the night so she could have the only hours of uplifting companionship she knew in the world.  Ms. Anna Williams was quite intelligent and a minor poet and playwright of some merit according to Johnson so I'm sure the tea and sympathy with her 'Sam', who she doted on, meant the world to her.

Dr Johnson was an ornament to any drawing room and always much in demand for the latter part of his life. Men of Title and Influence and Women of Fashion and Refinement desired his company but let's go back to that fateful day, May 16, 1763, to what is often overlooked or not even known...that first encounter between Dr Johnson and "his Boswell".  Did you know what prompted the great Dr Johnson being out and about and stopping at Davies' Book Shop in such ill temper? Johnson was en route to see his old friend from Litchfield, David Garrick; the now very wealthy, fashionably married, and the most celebrated figure of the London stage. It seems that Johnson had forwarded a play, written by that poor old blind spinster living under his protection, Ms. Anna Williams, to Garrick who couldn't be bothered to give it a fair hearing.  Johnson wanted to have a word with his former pupil.  That is one interview I wish Boswell had witnessed.


The Red Lion: "Home of the Poet's Pint"

 

The Red Lion Pub in Chicago's Lincoln Park on 2446 North Lincoln Avenue directly across from the Biograph Theatre

The Red Lion Pub has just been rebuilt and reopened after having been closed for 6 long years.  I have been a regular since moving to Chicago in 1988. It's a British pub with a real British pedigree.  The original building was built in 1882 and went through a variety of owners until being purchased in 1984 by prominent local architect and former City Planning Commissioner John Cordwell.  In addition to being the Mayor's point man on urban development in the 1950s, Cordwell had previously been a Royal Air Force pilot shot down over Germany during WWII and served as a Prisoner of War.  He was part of the group that engineered The Great Escape that was later made into the classic Steve McQueen movie.  The character based on Cordwell was depicted on screen by Donald Pleasance. After his years at City Hall and as a successful private sector architect, Cordwell wanted to become a 'publican' so purchased the building across from the Biograph Theatre and opened The Red Lion Pub and served as host until his death in 1999 where he always looked resplendent in RAF mustache and ascot while cradling a glass of the very best port.


John Cordwell aka "Cordwell the Elder"

 

From the very start, The Red Lion was a saloon where conversation reigned as there was no music and only one old TV for watching old movies (usually British and/or War movies) and it quickly became a hangout for writers, actors, professors, politicos, and history buffs. The elder Cordwell was a great storyteller and us younger guys just liked basking in his presence as the local powerbrokers, world leaders, and stars of stage and screen settled in with those who just liked to enjoy a few pints and a good talk into the wee small hours.

Donald Pleasance who played the forger based on John Cordwell in The Great Escape

 

Upstairs in the old building, the Red Lion would host amateur theatricals and became a hangout for many in the theatre community with Brian Dennehy often stopping in. A small theatrical troupe led by Barbara Gaines had the lofty ambition of becoming a Shakespeare Company and back in 1986 held their first production of Henry V on the 2nd floor patio.

Barbara Gaines founder of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre during their inaugural production
of Henry V in 1986 on The Red Lion's upstairs patio.
 

That little troupe that started outside on The Red Lion patio grew to be one the world's preeminent Shakespeare Companies performing in front of 225,000 attendees each year and doing outreach to 40,000 Chicago area school children.  I have much more I want to say about Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and will do so in a couple of upcoming posts.

Colin Cordwell, Red Lion Pub proprietor, aka "First Lord of Chicago Barkeeps"
 

When John Cordwell died in 1999, his son Colin Cordwell took the helm and has been our very charming and gracious host ever since.  One of Colin's highlights was the night Christopher Hitchens stopped in.  Colin and I have long been admirers of  'Hitch' for a variety of reasons and for Colin, like Hitch, a Great War (WWI) poetry aficionado, it was a real treat as they spent an hour and a half volleying passages (over Macallan 18) by Owen, Graves, Sassoon, McCrae, et al.  I wasn't there during Hitch's visit as I was in Baghdad serving in the Army.  When I was home on leave from Iraq in October 2007, my friends hosted a reception for me at The Red Lion and Colin told me of Hitch's visit.  Hitch had been the most eloquent and forceful advocate for the Iraq War and for that he was very dear to me (**see footnote below).     

The late Christopher Hitchens aka 'Hitch' who stopped in one memorable evening
and discussed Great War poetry with Colin over Macallan 18

Not a very good picture taken during a pre-opening party July 11, 2014
Lighting now much more subdued!

The old building had fallen into severe disrepair after 120 years and in 2008 had to be closed down and rebuilt.  There were many complications but finally Colin got a new building erected and opened only about 3 weeks ago. I can report that the new building's interior feels new and different but with the many bookcases bulging and the spruce beams it has the wonderful ambience of a very clubby library.  There is now a little music (such as the Beatles) that hovers unintrusively in the background but it remains a saloon for conversation.  The front room is known as The Great War room with some memorabilia commemorating Colin's grandfather, a highly decorated British soldier, wounded (bayoneted) at Gallipoli. There is a wall devoted to his father's exploits during WWII and upstairs is The Africa Room in honor of his mother, a noted Africa Scholar, with some artifacts from her travels there.


The cozy upstairs  Africa Room



I donated this Dr Johnson portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds that is hanging prominently
over the main floor in a frame I will soon be replacing with something more suitable.

Colin says he feels more like a steward than owner and he is the gracious host that makes you feel even more than welcome...like you belong. For me, it would have a special place in my heart regardless but I did donate a number of my favorite books: Complete Shakespeare, Harvard Classics, and many works either by or about my hero Dr Johnson who, as I noted in a previous post, famously said: "There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn."

Directly across the street from The Red Lion is the famous Biograph Theatre where John Dillinger was gunned down by
G-men in 1934 after 'The Lady in Red' gave him up. That crowd above has assembled around the corpse.
 

**I enlisted in the US Army back in August 2006 after they raised the maximum enlistment age allowing me to serve for the first time since 9/11/2001. While I arrived at my reasons for supporting the Iraq War independent of Hitch, he was the most eloquent, tireless, and fearless spokesman for a cause I strongly believed in.  Hitch, like me, had many friends who were very anti-Iraq war and I always felt a strong connection to him as a comrade in arms, hard-drinking raconteur, and loved his brilliant writings on literature.

***GSL has no financial or official involvement with The Red Lion Pub of any kind.



Modus Operandi

Samuel Johnson portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (Wikipedia)

In his book Human Accomplishment social scientist Charles Murray makes the case that the two greatest periods of advancement in the Arts and Sciences occurred during Ancient Rome and, to use his term, "Dr. Johnson's London".  Samuel Johnson presided over London intellectual life from the late 1740s until his death in 1784.  He often met with the learned ladies in drawing rooms both with and without other men in attendance.  For the men, Johnson and the famed portrait painter, and first president of the Royal Academy of Art, Sir Joshua Reynolds formed The Club which met initially in a tavern called The Turks Head Inn. Club members included the political philosophers Edmund Burke and Charles Fox, economist Adam Smith, dramatist Oliver Goldsmith, Corsican patriot Pasqual Paoli, and of course his celebrated biographer James Boswell just to name a few.

Dr Johnson with some club members at Sir Joshua Reynolds home. (Wikipedia)

The Club met once a week and members were permitted to bring a guest.  They discussed important matters of the day along with anything else that struck their fancy over beefsteak and brandy.  I can't help but think this cross pollination amongst men of high intellect but in different fields enhanced their creative output in their chosen discipline.

"There is nothing that has been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or Inn."
~Samuel Johnson

The just rebuilt and reopened Red Lion Pub in Chicago's Lincoln Park.

photo DNAinfoChicago

 

Only a couple of weeks ago, The Red Lion Pub (TRLP) reopened after having been closed for 6 long years. I have been a regular since I moved to Chicago in 1988. The old building had fallen into severe disrepair and had to be torn down and rebuilt while lawsuits and other complications were dealt with.  I should quickly add that I have no financial relationship or official involvement of any kind with TRLP, I wish to see it prosper the way it once did but with a more active spirit of Dr. Johnson's Club in mind only now also with women of keen intellect in conspicuous attendance. The Lion's Den blog will highlight cultural events, institutions, and people who make great things happen in Chicago.  We will encourage them to stop in at TRLP for refreshment and lively conversation in an atmosphere they will find welcoming and supportive.

~GSL