James Boswell (1740-1795) was a Scottish lawyer, diarist, and author who is best known for his biography of Samuel Johnson. Synonyms for James Boswell include biographer, chronicler, memoirist, writer, and raconteur. Boswell was a skilled writer who had a talent for capturing the voice and personality of his subjects, most famously Samuel Johnson. He was also a prolific diarist, with his journals providing valuable insight into the Life of Johnson and the literary and social scenes of his time. In addition to his work on Johnson, Boswell also wrote about his travels in Europe and was an influential figure in Scottish literary circles.