Samuel Johnson and the End of Patronage

The question asks to identify the individual credited with ending the system of patronage through his work titled “Letter to Lord Chesterfield”.

Samuel Johnson is widely recognized for this significant contribution to literary history. His famous “Letter to Lord Chesterfield” was written in 1755.

This letter was a powerful response to Lord Chesterfield's perceived lack of support and recognition for Johnson's monumental work, A Dictionary of the English Language. By publicly denouncing the reliance on aristocratic favour, Johnson's letter marked a turning point. It signified a move towards authorial independence and encouraged writers to seek broader public support, such as through subscriptions, rather than depending solely on the patronage of a few wealthy individuals. This act effectively challenged and contributed to the decline of the traditional patronage system in literature.