John Angell (shorthand writer)

Angell published in 1758 Stenography, or Shorthand Improved; being the most compendious, lineal, and easy method hitherto extant. ... By John Angell, who has practised his art above 30 years, London, 1758. It contained a historical preface; it was commonly ascribed to Samuel Johnson, though it had no trace of his style,^[1] and borrowed from the work of Philip Gibbs.^[2] Angell on one occasion visited Johnson, who was not favourably impressed with his abilities as a reporter. ‘Mr. Samuel Johnson, A.M., London,’ was a subscriber to Angell's work.^[1]

It was favourably commended to the public in 1770, by the Dublin Society, presided over by the lord-lieutenant. There was a second edition in 1782, sold by M. Angell in Lincoln's Inn Passage, London; and the method reached a fourth edition (without date), sold by the same publisher. Angell's shorthand, based on the lines more successfully followed up by Thomas Gurney, was never very popular. It is a variation of the system of William Mason.^[1]

Angell was also the author of an Essay on Prayer (London, 1761), with specimens of prayers of several eminent dissenting ministers in London, taken by the editor in shorthand.^[1]

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Angell, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.