Chapter 1: The Genesis of a Linguistic Legacy

The phrase “The man is not wholly evil — he has a Thesaurus in his cabin,” which describes Captain Hook in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, often resonates with those who appreciate Roget’s Thesaurus. If I encounter someone who shares this fondness, I feel an immediate connection. Typically, these enthusiasts are likely to speak English or Japanese, as other languages tend to have fewer synonyms due to their less diverse linguistic roots. English, a rich blend of Germanic, Romance, Greek, and other languages, creates a unique tapestry that makes Roget’s Thesaurus particularly effective (similar to the amalgamation found in Japanese).

For me, the joy of exploring the Thesaurus lies in the subtle differences in meaning among the synonyms; no two words are entirely interchangeable. However, my historical curiosity is equally piqued by Peter Mark Roget, the man behind this pivotal reference work, whose life was filled with remarkable events. Born to French Huguenot parents, Roget faced personal challenges from an early age. His father, a preacher with ties to Geneva, struggled with tuberculosis, while his mother, Catherine, a formidable and often troubled figure, along with her brother Samuel Romilly, a successful jeweler and politician, guided Roget toward a medical career. By the age of fourteen, he was enrolled at Edinburgh University.

Though he faced setbacks that delayed his final exams, Roget ultimately graduated with an M.D. in 1798, just five years after beginning his studies. His degree encompassed a wide array of sciences, evident in his undergraduate thesis on chemical affinity. Although he became a full-time physician, his passion for science persisted during a transformative era, transitioning from gentleman-amateurs to laboratory-based specialists. Some viewed Roget as an obstacle to this shift, serving as secretary of the Royal Society until his eventual resignation, after which he published his Thesaurus.

In the early days of his career, Roget found himself amidst influential figures. His first position was at the Pneumatic Institution for Inhalation Gas Therapy in Bristol, where he interacted with prominent poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey, who explored the potential health benefits of nitrous oxide. Roget’s tenure there coincided with Humphrey Davy, a luminary in chemistry, who later invited Roget to London’s Royal Institution. With the help of his uncle Samuel, Roget also worked with philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who envisioned an ice-house for preserving perishables. However, as that project stalled, Roget sought new opportunities.

Samuel's connections led him to Manchester, where he accompanied two young boys on a European tour following the Peace of Amiens. Their journey allowed them to witness historical events, including encounters with Napoleon and the aftermath of the Revolution in Lyon, before navigating the dangers of war-torn Geneva.

Thanks to his uncle's influence, Roget quickly ascended professionally. Within a year, he became the private physician to former Prime Minister Lord Lansdowne, followed by a position at Manchester's new infirmary. This city, a hub of industrialization, allowed him to forge connections with other talented scientists, including John Dalton, known for his work on color blindness.

By 1808, Roget returned to London, securing roles at two hospitals while remaining active in philosophical and literary societies. His commitment to these organizations solidified his reputation, leading to his election as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1815, primarily due to a technical paper on improving slide rules—essential tools for engineers and scientists prior to the advent of electronic calculators.

As he approached forty in 1819, Roget became a fixture among London’s scientific elite, balancing private practice with his commitments to various committees. Yet his personal life faced turmoil. His mother’s incessant complaints and the tragic death of his uncle Samuel, who took his own life, left a profound mark on him.

Despite these hardships, Roget continued to contribute to popular science, authoring entries for the Encyclopedia Britannica on diverse topics, including bee-keeping and the kaleidoscope. Through his involvement with the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, he became a voice for scientific education, while also making minor contributions to electricity and optics.

In 1824, Roget presented a paper on visual perception, exploring how carriage wheels appeared to blur when viewed through Venetian blinds—a concept that would later be known as “persistence of vision,” foundational to cinema. That same year, he married Mary Taylor Hobson, but their joy was short-lived; she succumbed to illness in 1832. Soon after, Roget faced challenges at the Royal Society, where critics accused him of hindering progress and raised concerns over the Society’s practices regarding scientific recognition.

As tensions mounted, Roget resigned from the Royal Society in 1848, marking a low point as he neared sixty. However, he redirected his focus to a long-held interest in linguistics, aiming to create a stable framework for language. His vision was to classify English words in a manner akin to how Linnaeus organized plants and animals.

Roget’s Thesaurus emerged as a pioneering work in this endeavor, introducing a systematic classification of words that aimed to enhance clarity and precision in writing. His method categorized words into six primary classes, reflecting his belief that a well-structured language could improve communication and understanding.

Despite his contributions to science and language, Roget is predominantly remembered for his retirement project, the Thesaurus, which has endured for over a century. Ironically, it is this work, rather than his scientific endeavors, that has secured his legacy.

In this video, "The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus," we explore the life and contributions of Peter Mark Roget, delving into the significance of his Thesaurus and its impact on language.

Chapter 2: A Journey Through Words

In this captivating reading of "The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus" by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, we discover the enchanting story of Roget's life and his influential work.