WEBSTER, Noah [1758-1843] -- American lexicographer and author

Wiki: Noah Webster

He was for half a century among the more influential and most active literary men in the United States. His name has become synonymous with dictionaries, especially the modern Merriam-Webster dictionary that was first published in 1828 as An American Dictionary of the English Language. His Blue-Backed Speller books were used to teach spelling and reading to five generations of American children.

His chief interest became that of language reform, advocating a number of spelling reforms, some successful (e.g. theater for theatre, plow for plough) some not so much (e.g. masheen for machine, yung for young).  
 

1774-1778

1781

1782-1789

1785

1789-1793

1803

1808

1812-1822

1824-1825

1830-1831