James Boswell was a Scottish lawyer, diarist, and author who is best known for his biography of his friend, the English writer Samuel Johnson. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1740 and was the eldest son of a judge. His nickname was 'Johnson's Boswell' and he was known for his wit and charm. He wrote a number of works, including the five-volume 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' which was published in 1791. He also wrote a four-letter biography of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, titled 'The Life of Robert Burns'. He was married to Etta Caan in 1769 and had two children. He died in London in 1795.