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Johnson's famous reference to himself:

Lexicographer — A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge

http://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/?p=4848

Edit: and while we're at it, the astonishing letter he sent Lord Chesterfield after the dictionary came out:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2013/08/seven-years-have-now-pa...

Apparently Chesterfield admired it and left it on his table for visitors to read.

For those who've watched the show Black Adder:

http://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/?p=8712

The "Mummy" entry is pretty fascinating:

"1. ...Mummy has been esteemed resolvent and balsamick; and besides it, the skull, and even the moss growing on the skulls of human skeletons, have been celebrated for antiepileptick virtues..."

3. To beat to a Mummy. To beat soundly."

http://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/?p=7796