Dictionary Madman

Factual Questions
1

I am convinced I recently read one of Ce’s older columns regarding one of the earlier contributors to the English Dictionary. As I recall, said contributor later was discovered to be an inmate at an insane asylum, quite possibly one for the criminally insane. However, after using every search word I could think of, from dictionary to Webster’s to asylum and numerous others in-between, I cannot find the archived article for the life of me. Further complicating matters, I’m positive I saw a fictionalized account of this character, though the name of the book seems to elude me.

I was hoping one of you brilliant teeming millions might be able to either provide me the link or tell me to lay off the pipe, as the aforementioned story obviously must be a drug induced fantasy.

Thanks in advance.

2

The name of the insane man is Dr. W. C. Minor. He is the subject of the book “The Professor and the Madman” by Simon Winchester, which is an account of his involvement with the OED. It’s not fictional.

3

Are you referring to Dr. W. C. Minor, who was biographed in The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester?

4

This story appears in the recently published (1998) The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester.

5

Triple simulpost! Wow!

6

That’s the answer for which I was looking. Thank you all for your assistance.