Today is the birth anniversary of Noah Webster, also known as Dictionary Day. The library will be celebrating Dictionary Day with a library crossword puzzle, some tasty treats, and a chance to win a raffle prize.
Webster created his first dictionary in 1806, called A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language.
Prior to publishing his first dictionary, Webster was known for creating a speller, a grammar book, and a reader for elementary school children.
Webster was a revolutionary, believing that America was superior to Europe because of the superior values it held and wanted to replace the British rule in the colonies with a utopia.
he was a Federalist spokesman and edited the leading Federalist Party newspaper. However, a rival Federalist pamphleteer called Webster a traitor to the cause due to his pro-French views.
Noah Webster was a cousin of Daniel Webster, the senator from Massachusetts who later was the Secretary of State for Millard Fillmore, William Henry Harrison, and John Tyler.
Webster was a spelling reformer (much like Melvil Dewey was), changing the spelling of many words to make them more Americanized. This included changing defence to defense, centre to center, traveller to traveler, colour to color, and tongue to tung (this one didn't catch on).
Webster helped to found Amhert College in Amhert Massachusetts in 1812.
What is your favorite word?
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