How did Samuel Johnson describe the responsibilities of a biographer?

Samuel Johnson, a pivotal figure in 18th-century literature and a professional biographer, established clear ethical and practical principles for the craft of biographical writing.

Central to his philosophy was the moral imperative that a biographer must tell the truth. Johnson argued that the primary business of the biographer is to display the minute details of daily life, as he believed these specific observations are essential to re-creating a living character. Furthermore, he maintained that a subject did not need to possess exalted fame to be worthy of a biography, emphasizing the value of documenting individual lives regardless of their public stature.1

While Johnson’s own work, such as The Lives of the English Poets, demonstrated his mastery of selection and emphasis, he consistently advocated for a commitment to accuracy and the inclusion of the intimate details that reveal the true nature of a person.12