John Harris (writer) facts for kids
John Harris (born around 1666 – died 1719) was an English writer, scientist, and Anglican priest. He is best known for creating the Lexicon Technicum: Or, A Universal English Dictionary of Arts and Sciences in 1704. This was one of the very first encyclopedias ever written in English. He also put together a large book of travel stories and started writing a history book about Kent, a county in England.
A Life of Learning
John Harris was born around 1666, probably in a place called Shropshire, England. He studied at Trinity College, Oxford from 1684 to 1688. After his studies, he became a priest in different churches, first in Icklesham and then in Winchelsea.
In 1696, John Harris became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a special group for important scientists. He wrote a paper for them about tiny living things he saw under a microscope. He was the first to describe a certain type of tiny creature called a bdelloid rotifer.
In 1698, he gave a series of talks called the Boyle Lectures. These talks aimed to explain how science and faith could go together.
Between 1702 and 1704, he taught math lessons in London. He also worked as a math tutor. A powerful friend named Sir William Cowper helped him get important jobs. These included being a private chaplain and a special priest at Rochester Cathedral.
John Harris was a Whig in politics. The Whigs were a political group who believed in more power for Parliament. He had a big disagreement with another priest, Charles Humphreys.
For a while, Harris was a vice-president of the Royal Society. He was also working on a detailed history book about Kent. Only the first part of this book was published in 1719. It is said that he died without much money because he was not good at managing his own affairs.
His Important Works
John Harris created the Lexicon Technicum, which was a huge step forward for knowledge. It was like an early version of Wikipedia or a modern encyclopedia. It helped people learn about many different subjects. He also put together a collection of exciting travel stories. His unfinished history of Kent still gives us clues about life in that area long ago.
