Collier's New Encyclopedia

A complete general encyclopedia of 1921 — the world as it was understood just after the Great War, from Aachen to Zwingli, across twelve volumes and six thousand pages.

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Johnson (THOMAS LOFTIN better early)

THOMAS LOFTIN, better early education. His first employment was with a street-railway company. He ity and acquired a large fortune, partly rapidly rose to positions of responsibilthrough inventions relating to street railwa. s. He purchased in 1876 an interest lexicographer; born in Litchfield, Eng- English land, Sept. 18, 1709. He completed his and in 1732 taught school at Market in a street railway of Indianapolis and Bosworth. In 1735 he married Mrs. later acquired large holdings in street $4,000 and with this capital Johnson railways in Cleveland, Detroit, and $4,000 and with this capital Johnson Brooklyn. He made these lines profitstarted a school at Edial, near Litchfield, able by the introduction of through fares obtaining only three scholars, one of and transfers. He disposed of his streetwhom was David Garrick. It was at this time that he began his tragedy "Irene." In 1737 he set out for the metropolis, accompanied by Garrick. On fixing his residence in London he formed a connection with Cave, the publisher of the "Gentleman's Magazine," his principal employment being the reports of the parliamentary debates. It was during this period that he formed a friendship for Richard Savage whom he immortalized in a biographical sketch. In 1749 appeared his "Vanity of Human Wishes," an imitation of Juvenal's 10th satire. In 1750 he commenced his "Rambler," a periodical paper, which was continued till 1752. About the "Rambler," a periodical paper, which period of his relinquishing the "Rambler," he lost his wife, a circumstance which greatly affected him, as appears from his "Meditations," and the sermon which he wrote on her death. In 1755 from his "Meditations," and the sermon appeared his "Dictionary," which, instead of three, had occupied eight years. stead of three, had occupied eight years. by writing to papers in its favor in the "World"; but, as he had hitherto newith contempt. In 1758 he began the "Idler," which was published in a weekly newspaper. On the death of his mother, in 1759, he wrote the romance of "Raseral, and to pay her debts. In 1762 George III. granted him a pension. In railway interests for a large sum and entered politics. He was defeated for Congress in 1898 but was elected in 1890 of the single-tax ideas of Henry George and also his theories of municipal ownand also his theories of municipal own- 1901 he was elected mayor of Cleveland and was three times re-elected. During reforms and won a fight to secure threehis terms of office he introduced radical city. He was defeated for the governcity. He was defeated for the governactive participation of public affairs in 1910 and died in the following year. cent fares on the street-car lines of the officer; born in Warrentown, County

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