Alexander Macbean (died 1784) was a British writer andamanuensis, known as a lexicographer.
Macbean worked as amanuensis forEphraim Chambers; and then was one of the six amanuenses employedJohnson's Dictionary. About 1758 he obtained, throughSamuel Johnson, the post of librarian toArchibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll.[1]
On the duke's death in 1761, Macbean was left without income, and he became mainly dependent on charity. In 1775, when Macbean was starving, as his former colleague Peyton had already done, Johnson who found him unworldly gave him four guineas and collected more; and in 1780, through his influence withLord Thurlow, obtained him admission as a poor brother to theLondon Charterhouse. There he died on 26 June 1784.[1]
Macbean wrote:[1]
He also compiled numerous indexes, including that to Johnson's edition of theEnglish Poets.[1]
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1893). "Macbean, Alexander".Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 34. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
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