Biographer's Day Date in the current year: May 16, 2024

On May 16, 1763, English writer and lexicographer Samuel Johnson was introduced to Scottish lawyer and author James Boswell. The two quickly became friends. After Johnson's death, Boswell wrote Johnson's biography. The Life of Samuel Johnson is considered to be one of the greatest biographies written in English. It greatly influenced on the development of the modern genre of biography.

Boswell is one of the most famous biographers, his last name is now used as a term for a biographer who obtains information through close observation of the subject. In Arthur Conan Doyle's short story A Scandal in Bohemia, Sherlock Holmes affectionately refers to Dr. Watson as “his Boswell”.

Biographer's Day is a great occasion to honor the genre of biography, which has become very popular in recent years. You can celebrate it by reading a biography you have never read before or revisiting an old favorite. It is a perfect day to read Boswell's magnum opus or practice your own biography writing skills – they might come in handy one day!