When you search for “Merriam Webster Age,” you’re actually looking for information about Noah Webster, the brilliant American lexicographer who created the foundation for what became the famous Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Born on October 16, 1758, in West Hartford, Connecticut, Noah Webster lived to the impressive age of 84 years before passing away on May 28, 1843. This comprehensive biography explores everything about the Father of American Education, from his physical appearance to his revolutionary impact on American English.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts About Noah Webster
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Noah Webster Jr. |
| Birth Date | October 16, 1758 |
| Birthplace | West Hartford, Connecticut, United States |
| Death Date | May 28, 1843 |
| Death Place | New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Age at Death | 84 years, 7 months, 12 days |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | English descent |
| Religion | Congregationalist (later Episcopalian) |
| Height | Tall (exact measurements unavailable) |
| Build | Lanky, slender frame |
| Hair Color | Red (auburn) |
| Eye Color | Historical records unclear |
| Primary Occupation | Lexicographer, author, educator |
| Other Occupations | Lawyer, journalist, textbook pioneer, political writer |
| Famous For | American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) |
| Notable Work | Blue-Backed Speller (sold over 100 million copies) |
| Spouse | Rebecca Greenleaf (m. 1789-1843) |
| Children | 8 (Emily, Frances, Harriet, Mary, William, Eliza, Henry, Louisa) |
| Education | Yale College (BA 1778, MA 1781) |
| Political Affiliation | Federalist |
| Net Worth (Historical) | Modest wealth from textbook sales |
This table provides a snapshot of the American lexicographer who transformed American English forever. Noah Webster’s biography is a testament to dedication, scholarship, and patriotic vision during the critical years following American independence.
Early Life and Family Background
Birth and Childhood in West Hartford
Noah Webster was born into a modest farming family on October 16, 1758, in the rural town of West Hartford, Connecticut. His parents, Noah Webster Sr. and Mercy Steele Webster, were hardworking descendants of Connecticut’s early settlers. The Webster family had been in Connecticut since the 1630s, establishing deep roots in the American colonies long before the American Revolution.
Young Noah grew up during a transformative period in American history. His childhood coincided with growing tensions between the colonies and British rule, which would profoundly influence his later work in promoting a distinct American language and educational reform.
Parents and Siblings
Noah Webster Sr. was a farmer and weaver who struggled financially to provide for his large family. Despite limited resources, he recognized the importance of education and made sacrifices to ensure his children received proper schooling. Mercy Steele Webster, Noah’s mother, came from a respectable local family and instilled strong moral values in her children.
Noah was one of several siblings in the Webster household. Growing up in a farming community, he learned the value of hard work from an early age. Unlike many farm children of his era who remained tied to agricultural life, Noah showed exceptional intellectual promise that set him apart.
Childhood in West Hartford
Life in West Hartford during the 1760s and 1770s was simple but demanding. The Webster family lived in a modest farmhouse where Noah helped with farm chores while pursuing his education. The rural Connecticut landscape shaped his character, teaching him discipline and perseverance.
The outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775, when Noah was just 16 years old, had a profound impact on him. He briefly served in the Connecticut Militia during the war, an experience that deepened his patriotic feelings and later influenced his desire to create a distinctly American identity through language and education.
Physical Appearance
Height and Build
Historical records describe Noah Webster as a tall man with a lanky, slender frame. While exact measurements of his height and weight are not available in any surviving documents, contemporaries consistently noted his above-average stature and thin build. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the average male height was approximately 5’8″ to 5’9″, suggesting Webster likely stood around 6 feet or taller.
His lanky physique was often mentioned in personal accounts, painting a picture of an intellectual who was more focused on scholarly pursuits than physical development. This physical characteristic became part of his recognizable appearance among his contemporaries.
Distinguishing Features
The most notable feature of Noah Webster’s appearance was his distinctive red hair. Multiple historical sources confirm he had red (auburn) hair, which was relatively uncommon and made him stand out in a crowd. This striking feature, combined with his height, made the American lexicographer easily recognizable in academic and political circles.
Beyond his physical attributes, Webster was known for his serious demeanor and intense gaze. Portraits from his era depict a man with sharp, intelligent features and a somewhat stern expression, reflecting his studious and disciplined nature.
Physical Description in Historical Context
Contemporaries who knew Webster personally described him as having a somewhat austere appearance that matched his personality. He was not known for vanity or concern with fashion, instead maintaining a practical, scholarly appearance throughout his life. His red hair and tall frame, combined with his intellectual intensity, created a memorable presence in the educational and political circles of early American society.
Historical portraits show Webster typically dressed in the formal attire of his era, with high collars and dark coats befitting a respected author and educator. His appearance conveyed the seriousness with which he approached his life’s work of reforming American education and standardizing American English.
Education Journey
Early Education
Despite his family’s modest financial circumstances, Noah Webster’s parents recognized his intellectual gifts and prioritized his education. He attended a local common school in West Hartford where he demonstrated exceptional aptitude, particularly in languages and literature. His early education laid the foundation for his future career as a lexicographer and textbook pioneer.
The quality of education in colonial Connecticut varied widely, but Webster was fortunate to have dedicated teachers who nurtured his talents. He learned Latin, Greek, and other classical subjects that were considered essential for higher education in the 18th century.
Yale College (1774-1778)
At age 16, Noah Webster entered Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1774. This was a pivotal moment in both his life and American history. During his years at Yale, the American Revolution erupted, and the college became a hotbed of revolutionary sentiment and patriotic fervor.
Webster’s Yale education was temporarily disrupted by the war. He served briefly in the Connecticut Militia and witnessed firsthand the struggle for American independence. This experience reinforced his belief that America needed to establish its own cultural and linguistic identity, separate from British influences.
Despite wartime challenges, Webster excelled academically at Yale College. He studied a classical curriculum that included rhetoric, theology, mathematics, philosophy, and languages. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1778, at age 19. He later received his Master of Arts degree from Yale in 1781, further solidifying his academic credentials.
Law Studies and Bar Admission
After graduating from Yale, Webster faced the challenge of establishing a career during economically difficult post-war years. He initially worked as a schoolteacher to support himself while studying law. This teaching experience proved invaluable, as it exposed him to the inadequacies of existing textbooks and educational materials, particularly spelling books.
Webster studied law under prominent attorneys and was admitted to the bar in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1781. However, his legal career was short-lived and largely unsuccessful. The newly independent nation had an oversupply of lawyers and limited opportunities. This apparent setback redirected Webster toward his true calling: education and language reform.
His legal training, while not leading to a traditional legal career, provided Webster with valuable skills in research, argumentation, and systematic thinking that would serve him well in his later work as a lexicographer and advocate for copyright laws. Webster would eventually become a strong proponent of intellectual property rights, using his legal knowledge to help establish America’s first copyright laws at the federal government level.
Career Achievements
Teaching Career
Noah Webster’s career as a teacher began out of necessity but quickly became his passion. After graduating from Yale College, he took a teaching position at a school in Glastonbury, Connecticut. His firsthand experience in the classroom revealed a critical problem: American students were learning from British textbooks that used British spelling, pronunciation, and cultural references.
This realization became the catalyst for Webster’s lifelong mission to create distinctly American educational materials. He saw education as the foundation for building national unity and cultural identity. Between 1779 and 1783, Webster taught in various schools while developing his revolutionary ideas about American education reform.
Textbook Writing and the Blue-Backed Speller
In 1783, Noah Webster published his most commercially successful work: “A Grammatical Institute of the English Language,” commonly known as the “Blue-Backed Speller” due to its distinctive blue cover. This spelling book revolutionized American education and became one of the best-selling books in American history, with over 100 million copies sold over the following century.
The Blue-Backed Speller was groundbreaking for several reasons:
- It used American spellings rather than British conventions
- It included American cultural references and examples
- It promoted a standardized American English pronunciation
- It was affordable and accessible to common families
- It included patriotic content promoting American values
This textbook became the standard for teaching reading and spelling across the nation for generations. Teachers and parents relied on Webster’s systematic approach to phonics and spelling, which emphasized pronunciation as the foundation for learning to read. The success of the Blue-Backed Speller established Webster as a leading figure in American education and provided him with the financial resources to pursue his larger lexicographical ambitions.
Dictionary Development
Webster’s greatest achievement was his monumental work in dictionary development. Frustrated by the lack of comprehensive American reference materials, he devoted decades to creating a definitive American Dictionary that would serve the needs of the young nation.
His dictionary work began seriously in 1800, though he had been collecting material for years. Webster believed that American English deserved its own authoritative reference, reflecting American usage, pronunciation, and spelling rather than simply copying British standards. He worked tirelessly, spending 26 years researching, compiling, and writing what would become his masterpiece.
Webster learned 26 languages to understand word etymologies and ensure accuracy in his definitions. His scholarly rigor was unprecedented for American lexicography. He traveled to libraries in England and France to conduct research, demonstrating his commitment to creating the most authoritative dictionary possible.
Newspaper Editing and Political Involvement
Beyond education, Noah Webster was an active journalist and political commentator. In 1793, he founded the first daily newspaper in New York City, the “American Minerva” (later renamed “The Commercial Advertiser”). Through his newspaper, Webster promoted Federalist political views and engaged in the heated political debates of the early republic.
As a Federalist, Webster supported strong central government, which put him at odds with the Democratic-Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson. His political writings advocated for national unity, economic development, and cultural independence from European influence. Webster used his editorial platform to influence public opinion on key issues including the Constitution, federal government powers, and copyright laws.
Webster also served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and was active in various civic organizations. His political involvement reflected his belief that educated citizens were essential for democracy’s success. He consistently advocated for universal education, believing that an informed populace was crucial for maintaining republican government.
Advocacy for Copyright Protection
One of Webster’s most important but often overlooked contributions was his advocacy for copyright laws. Drawing on his legal training and personal experience as an author, Webster lobbied state legislatures and later the federal government to establish copyright protections for authors and creators.
In 1790, partly due to Webster’s efforts, Congress passed the first federal copyright law, protecting books, maps, and charts for 14 years with the possibility of renewal. This legislation was revolutionary, establishing the principle that intellectual property deserved legal protection. Webster’s advocacy for copyright laws helped create the framework that still protects authors and creators today.
The Famous Dictionary
The Compendious Dictionary (1806)
Before tackling his comprehensive masterwork, Noah Webster published “A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language” in 1806. This was a smaller, more practical dictionary containing approximately 37,000 words. The Compendious Dictionary served as a testing ground for Webster’s ideas about American English and spelling reform.
The 1806 dictionary introduced many of Webster’s proposed spelling changes, including:
- Dropping the “u” from words like “colour” to “color” and “honour” to “honor”
- Changing “centre” to “center” and “theatre” to “theater”
- Simplifying “connexion” to “connection”
- Changing “-ise” endings to “-ize” (realise to realize)
While not all of Webster’s suggested reforms were adopted, many became standard American spellings that distinguish American English from British English today. This early dictionary established Webster’s reputation as a serious lexicographer and spelling reformer.
An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)
At the age of 70, Noah Webster published his crowning achievement: “An American Dictionary of the English Language” in 1828. This monumental two-volume work represented 26 years of exhaustive research and contained approximately 70,000 words—significantly more than any previous English dictionary.
Webster’s American Dictionary included approximately 12,000 new words that had never appeared in any previous dictionary. These words reflected American innovations, institutions, and experiences that had no British equivalents. Words related to American government, geography, flora, fauna, and technology were defined for the first time in a comprehensive reference work.
The dictionary’s key features included:
- 70,000 words with precise definitions
- 12,000 words never before included in any dictionary
- Detailed etymologies showing word origins
- American pronunciations and usage examples
- Scientific and technical terms
- Distinctly American spellings and conventions
Webster’s definitions were notably more comprehensive and clearer than those in existing British dictionaries like Samuel Johnson’s. Where Johnson might provide a brief, sometimes witty definition, Webster offered thorough explanations with careful attention to different meanings and contexts.
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Spelling Reforms and American English
Noah Webster’s most lasting impact came through his spelling reforms that helped differentiate American English from British English. While he proposed many changes, the ones that succeeded were those that simplified spelling while maintaining pronunciation logic.
Webster’s successful spelling reforms included:
| British Spelling | American Spelling | Webster’s Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| colour, honour | color, honor | Unnecessary “u” removed |
| centre, theatre | center, theater | More phonetic spelling |
| defence, offence | defense, offense | Matches pronunciation |
| connexion | connection | Simplified spelling |
| travelled, jewellery | traveled, jewelry | Single consonant suffix |
| cheque | check | Phonetic consistency |
These changes weren’t arbitrary but reflected Webster’s systematic approach to making American English more logical and phonetic. His spelling book and dictionaries spread these conventions throughout America, establishing standards that persist today.
Webster believed that linguistic independence was as important as political independence. By establishing distinct American spelling conventions, he helped forge a unique American cultural identity separate from Britain. His work as a spelling reformer contributed to American nationalism and unity in the crucial decades following American independence.
Publication and Reception
The publication of Webster’s American Dictionary in 1828 was a landmark event in American cultural history. The dictionary was published in two massive volumes and initially sold for $20, a substantial sum that limited its accessibility despite its importance.
Reception was mixed but ultimately positive. Scholars praised its comprehensiveness and scholarly rigor. Critics, including those who preferred British conventions, objected to some of Webster’s spelling reforms and American biases. However, the dictionary’s utility and authority gradually won over skeptics.
Despite its scholarly achievement, the dictionary was not immediately profitable. Webster received limited financial return for his decades of work. The true commercial and cultural success of his dictionary came after his death, when George Merriam and Charles Merriam purchased the rights and created the Merriam-Webster publishing dynasty.
Personal Life
Marriage to Rebecca Greenleaf (1789)
On October 26, 1789, Noah Webster married Rebecca Greenleaf, daughter of William Greenleaf, a wealthy Boston merchant. Their courtship and marriage represented a significant turning point in Webster’s life, providing him with emotional stability and social connections that supported his scholarly ambitions.
Rebecca Greenleaf was educated, refined, and well-connected in Boston society. Their marriage was by all accounts happy and supportive. Rebecca understood and encouraged her husband’s intellectual pursuits, managing household affairs to allow Webster the time and mental space needed for his exhaustive research and writing.
The marriage lasted 54 years, from 1789 until Webster died in 1843, a remarkable duration for the era. Rebecca proved to be an ideal partner for the scholarly lexicographer, supporting him through financial challenges, numerous relocations, and the demanding decades he devoted to completing his dictionary.
Eight Children
Noah Webster and Rebecca Greenleaf had eight children together, a typical family size for the period. Their children were:
- Emily Schroeder Webster (1790-1861)
- Frances Juliana Webster (1793-1869)
- Harriet Webster (1797-1844)
- Mary Webster (1799-1854)
- William Greenleaf Webster (1801-1869)
- Eliza Steele Webster (1803-1873)
- Henry Bradford Webster (1806-1842)
- Louisa Webster (1808-1886)
Webster was a devoted father who took the education of all his children seriously, including his daughters, progressive for his time. Several of his children assisted him with his dictionary work, particularly in the tedious tasks of copying, proofreading, and organizing materials.
William Greenleaf Webster, his only surviving son at the time of Noah’s death, initially attempted to continue his father’s legacy in publishing but ultimately pursued other careers. Webster’s daughters married into respectable families and maintained their father’s correspondence and papers, helping preserve his legacy for future generations.
Residences and Later Years
Throughout his life, Noah Webster lived in several locations as his career evolved. After his marriage, he and Rebecca initially lived in Hartford, Connecticut, where Webster worked on his textbooks and early literary projects. They later moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where Webster would spend his final decades in proximity to Yale College.
The Webster family also spent several years in Amherst, Massachusetts, where Noah was instrumental in founding Amherst College in 1821. His commitment to higher education extended beyond his own Yale experience to helping establish institutions that would serve future generations.
In his later years, Webster lived comfortably but not lavishly in New Haven. The house at 227 York Street became his scholarly headquarters, where he completed the final revisions of his American Dictionary. He maintained a disciplined schedule, rising early for study and writing, receiving visitors interested in language and education, and participating in local civic and religious affairs.
Webster’s later years were marked by continued intellectual vigor. Even in his 70s and 80s, he revised his dictionary, worked on spelling books, and engaged in religious and educational controversies. He converted from Congregationalism to Episcopalianism in his later life, reflecting his evolving theological views.
Noah Webster died on May 28, 1843, at his home in New Haven, Connecticut, at the age of 84 years. His death marked the end of an era, but his influence on American education and language continues to this day.
Legacy and Impact
“Father of American Scholarship and Education”
Noah Webster earned the title “Father of American Scholarship and Education” through his transformative impact on how Americans learned to read, write, and think about their language. His Blue-Backed Speller taught generations of American children, creating a shared educational experience that promoted national unity.
Webster’s influence extended far beyond mere spelling instruction. He championed the idea that education was the foundation of democracy and citizenship. His textbooks included moral lessons and patriotic content designed to shape character alongside literacy. This approach to education as a tool for building national identity influenced American educational philosophy for generations.
As the “Father of American Education,” Webster advocated for:
- Universal public education for all children
- Standardized curriculum across states
- Teacher training and professionalism
- Educational materials reflecting American values and experiences
- The importance of literacy for democratic participation
His vision of American education as a unifying national force helped shape the emerging public school system that would develop throughout the 19th century.
The Merriam-Webster Connection (1847)
After Noah Webster’s death in 1843, his heirs struggled to capitalize on his dictionary. In 1847, George Merriam and Charles Merriam, two publishers from Springfield, Massachusetts, purchased the rights to Webster’s American Dictionary for $3,000. This transaction created one of America’s most enduring publishing institutions: Merriam-Webster.
The Merriam brothers recognized the dictionary’s potential and invested in revisions and updates. They hired Webster’s son-in-law, Chauncey A. Goodrich, to oversee a revised edition published in 1847. This edition expanded the dictionary to include more words and improved definitions, building on Webster’s foundation.
Merriam-Webster became the authoritative source for American English, issuing regular updates and new editions that tracked the evolution of the language. The company’s commitment to linguistic scholarship maintained Webster’s legacy while adapting to changing times. Today, Merriam-Webster remains one of the most respected dictionary publishers in the world, directly descended from Noah Webster’s original work.
The Merriam-Webster name itself honors this connection, linking the Merriam brothers’ business acumen with Webster’s scholarly achievement. Every time someone references a “Merriam-Webster dictionary,” they’re acknowledging Noah Webster’s foundational contribution to American lexicography.
Influence on American English
Noah Webster’s impact on American English cannot be overstated. His work established American English as a legitimate variant of English with its own standards, rather than a corrupted version of British English. Webster’s spelling reforms gave American English its distinctive character, creating visible differences that symbolized American cultural independence.
Webster’s dictionary didn’t just record American English—it shaped it. By including words and definitions that reflected American experience and usage, Webster influenced how Americans spoke and wrote. His careful attention to pronunciation helped standardize American speech patterns across diverse regions.
Key aspects of Webster’s influence on American English:
- Standardized American spellings distinct from British conventions
- Documented uniquely American words and expressions
- Promoted phonetic consistency in spelling
- Established authoritative definitions for American usage
- Encouraged linguistic independence from British standards
Webster’s vision of a distinctly American language supported broader national identity formation. Just as the young nation needed its own government, laws, and institutions, Webster argued it needed its own language standards. His dictionary provided those standards at a crucial moment in American cultural development.
Cultural Significance
Beyond linguistics, Noah Webster’s work had profound cultural significance. His textbooks and dictionary promoted national unity by giving Americans from different regions and backgrounds shared linguistic standards. In an era of limited communication and vast geographical distances, Webster’s books helped create a common American culture.
Webster’s advocacy for copyright laws established principles that protected creative work and encouraged intellectual development. His influence helped shape America’s approach to intellectual property, balancing individual rights with public benefit.
Webster’s belief in education as a foundation for democracy influenced generations of educators and policymakers. His vision of universal education as essential for citizenship helped drive the movement for public schools throughout the 19th century.
The cultural impact of Webster’s work extended internationally as well. American English, distinct from British English largely due to Webster’s influence, became a global linguistic force. Today, when international students learn English, they often must choose between British and American conventions—a choice that exists largely because of Noah Webster’s work.
Interesting Facts & Trivia
Physical Description and Personality
Noah Webster was known for his striking physical appearance, particularly his distinctive red hair and tall, lanky frame. However, his personality was equally memorable, if sometimes polarizing. Contemporaries described him as:
- Intensely serious and scholarly
- Moralistic and sometimes humorless
- Deeply patriotic to the point of zealousness
- Argumentative in defense of his ideas
- Persistent and tireless in his work
- Somewhat vain about his accomplishments
- Religiously devout, especially in later years
Webster’s red hair and serious demeanor became his trademark. One contemporary noted that Webster “looked like a schoolmaster,” which was appropriate given his lifelong commitment to education. His lack of humor and tendency toward self-righteousness sometimes alienated potential allies, though his intellectual achievements commanded respect.
Despite his sometimes difficult personality, Webster inspired loyalty among students and supporters who appreciated his genuine dedication to American improvement. His correspondence reveals a man who was deeply thoughtful, if also stubborn, and who genuinely believed his work served the greater good of the nation.
Controversies and Criticisms
Noah Webster was no stranger to controversy. Throughout his career, he faced criticism from multiple quarters:
Spelling Reform Debates: Many educated Americans resisted Webster’s spelling reforms, viewing them as unnecessary tampering with established conventions. Conservative scholars argued that maintaining British spelling preserved cultural continuity and scholarly standards. Some of Webster’s more radical proposals, like spelling “women” as “wimmen,” were rejected even by his supporters.
Political Conflicts: As a Federalist, Webster made enemies among Democratic-Republicans. His newspaper writings, which defended Federalist policies and attacked Thomas Jefferson, earned him political opponents who criticized both his politics and his linguistic work. Some saw his American Dictionary as a Federalist attempt to control language and culture.
Religious Controversies: Webster’s later religious writings, including his revision of the Bible (1833) to modernize language, sparked heated debates. Critics accused him of sacrilege for daring to alter scripture, while Webster defended his work as making the Bible more accessible to modern readers.
Accusations of Plagiarism: Some critics accused Webster of borrowing too heavily from Samuel Johnson’s earlier British dictionary without adequate acknowledgment. While Webster certainly consulted existing dictionaries, his definitions and approach were largely original, and these accusations were generally unfair.
Lesser-Known Achievements
Beyond his famous dictionary and textbooks, Noah Webster made several other notable contributions:
Epidemiology Research: Webster wrote extensively about infectious diseases, including a two-volume “Brief History of Epidemic and Pestilential Diseases” (1799). His systematic approach to documenting disease outbreaks was ahead of its time and contributed to early public health understanding.
Temperature Records: Webster was fascinated by weather and climate, keeping detailed temperature records that contributed to early climatological research in America. His meteorological observations were used by later scientists studying climate patterns.
Founding Amherst College: Webster played a crucial role in founding Amherst College in Massachusetts in 1821, contributing both financially and through his advocacy for higher education.
Translation Work: Webster translated several works from French and other languages, promoting European scholarship in America while also making American works available abroad.
Insurance Company: Webster helped establish a life insurance company, applying his mathematical skills and understanding of statistics to actuarial calculations.
Agricultural Writings: He wrote about farming and agricultural improvement, reflecting his rural Connecticut upbringing and belief in practical knowledge.
These diverse achievements reveal Webster as a true polymath whose interests extended far beyond language and education, though those remained his primary focus and lasting legacy.
Timeline of Important Events
| Year | Age | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1758 | 0 | Born October 16 in West Hartford, Connecticut, to Noah Webster Sr. and Mercy Steele Webster |
| 1774 | 16 | Entered Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut |
| 1775 | 17 | Graduated from Yale College with a Bachelor of Arts degree |
| 1778 | 19 | Worked as a schoolteacher in various Connecticut schools |
| 1779-1783 | 21-25 | Admitted to the bar in Hartford, Connecticut; received a Master of Arts from Yale |
| 1781 | 23 | Married Rebecca Greenleaf on October 26; published “Dissertations on the English Language.” |
| 1783 | 25 | Published “A Grammatical Institute of the English Language” (Blue-Backed Speller) |
| 1787 | 29 | Published “An American Selection of Lessons in Reading and Speaking” |
| 1789 | 31 | First daughter, Emily, born; helped secure the first federal copyright law |
| 1790 | 32 | Founded the “American Minerva” newspaper in New York City |
| 1793 | 35 | Began serious work on the comprehensive American Dictionary project |
| 1800 | 42 | Published a revised Bible translation in modernized English |
| 1806 | 48 | Published “A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language” (37,000 words) |
| 1812 | 54 | Moved to Amherst, Massachusetts |
| 1821 | 63 | Instrumental in founding Amherst College |
| 1822-1825 | 64-67 | Traveled to England and France for dictionary research |
| 1825 | 67 | George Merriam and Charles Merriam purchased the rights to Webster’s dictionary |
| 1828 | 70 | Published “An American Dictionary of the English Language” (70,000 words, 12,000 new words) |
| 1833 | 75 | Completed manuscript of the American Dictionary at Cambridge, England |
| 1840 | 82 | Published a revised edition of the American Dictionary |
| 1843 | 84 | Died May 28 in New Haven, Connecticut, at age 84 |
| 1847 | — | George Merriam and Charles Merriam purchased rights to Webster’s dictionary |
This timeline shows the remarkable productivity and longevity of Noah Webster’s career. From his graduation from Yale at 19 to his death at 84, Webster spent 65 years contributing to American education and language. His most significant achievement, the American Dictionary, was published when he was 70 years old, demonstrating that his intellectual powers remained strong throughout his life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Noah Webster when he died?
Noah Webster died at age 84 years old on May 28, 1843, in New Haven, Connecticut. Born on October 16, 1758, Webster lived through the entire revolutionary period, the establishment of the United States, and the early decades of the republic’s development. His 84 years spanned remarkable historical changes, from British colonial rule through American independence to the emergence of America as a growing nation.
Webster’s longevity was exceptional for his era, when average life expectancy was much lower. He remained intellectually active throughout his long life, publishing a revised edition of his dictionary at age 82, just two years before his death. His sustained productivity over eight decades established a legacy that continues to influence American English and education today.
What is Merriam-Webster’s connection to Noah Webster?
Merriam-Webster directly descends from Noah Webster’s original American Dictionary of the English Language. After Webster died in 1843, his heirs sold the rights to his dictionary to George Merriam and Charles Merriam, two publishers from Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1847 for $3,000.
The Merriam brothers recognized the value of Webster’s work and invested in updating and expanding it. They hired Webster’s son-in-law, Chauncey A. Goodrich, a Yale professor, to prepare revised editions. The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was published in 1847, just four years after Noah Webster’s death.
Since then, Merriam-Webster has continuously updated and expanded Webster’s original work, maintaining its position as one of America’s most authoritative dictionary publishers. The company name honors both the Merriam brothers, who built the business, and Noah Webster, whose scholarly work provided the foundation. Every Merriam-Webster dictionary sold today traces its lineage directly back to Noah Webster’s 1828 masterwork.
The Merriam-Webster brand has become synonymous with authoritative definitions of American English, fulfilling Webster’s vision of establishing American linguistic standards independent from British conventions.
Published By Dilawar Mughal