John Stephen Farmer (1854–1916), who often published under the name J. S. Farmer, was a British lexicographer, spiritualist, and writer. Active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Farmer developed a diverse career that spanned linguistic research, spiritual exploration, and various writing projects. His work reflected a deep interest in both the unorthodox aspects of language and the spiritualist movements of his time.\n\nAs a writer and researcher, Farmer is most famous for compiling a massive, seven-volume dictionary of slang. This extensive lexicographical project documented informal language, colloquialisms, and non-standard English, securing his reputation as a key figure in the study of historical slang. Beyond his linguistic achievements, his identity as a spiritualist and author further defined his unique contributions to British letters.
