James Elphinston

James Elphinston

James Elphinston (December 6, 1721 – October 8, 1809) was a well noted 18th century Scottish educator, orthographer, phonologist and linguistics expert.

Elphinston was a good friend of Samuel Johnson as stated within Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1904, Oxford Edition) Chapter IV [1750], and tutor of Alexander James Dallas

"Mr. James Elphinston, who has since published various works, and who was ever esteemed by Johnson as a worthy man, happened to be in Scotland while the Rambler was coming out in single papers at London. With a laudable zeal at once for the improvement of his countrymen, and the reputation of his friend, he suggested and took the charge of an edition of those Essays at Edinburgh, which followed progressively the London publication."

In 1792 he move to live in Elstree, and finally to Hammersmith in 1806, where he died in 1809.

Notes

The bios in the DNB and ODNB do not differ greatly, except that the ODNB has R. C. Dallas as Elphinston's biographer in the 1809 edition of Gentleman's Magazine no. 79, which would have been impossible if they are referring to Dr Robert Charles Dallas – the father of Alexander James Dallas – who died in 1769.

Bibliography

• Propriety Ascertained in Her Picture, (or English Speech and Spelling Rendered Mutual Guides, Secure Alike from Distant, and from Domestic, Error)(1786, 1787)[2 volumes]
• The Principles of the English Language Digested for the use of Schools (1766)
• Inglish Orthography Epittomized (1790)
• Miniature of English Orthography (1795)

Co-author of:

• The Epigrams of Marcus Valerius Martialis in twelve books: with commentary and translation into English by James Elphinston (1782)

External links

• Works by James Elphinston at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about James Elphinston at the Internet Archive