Robert Levet, a Yorkshireman who became a Parisian waiter, then garnered some training as an apothecary and moved to London, was eulogized by the poet Samuel Johnson, with whom Levet shared a friendship of thirty-six years, in Johnson's poem "On the Death of Dr. Robert Levet." Levet was described as "an obscure practiser in physick amongst the lower people." Born into modest circumstances at Hull, Yorkshire, Levet moved to Paris, where he found work as a waiter. Along the way, he picked up some training as an apothecary. Levet occupied an apartment within Samuel Johnson's home, where he waited on Johnson "every morning." The two became acquainted in 1746, according to Johnson's biographer James Boswell: "Such was Johnson's predilection for him, and fanciful estimation of his moderate abilities, that I have heard him say he should not be satisfied, though attended by all the College of Physicians, unless he had Mr. Levet with him. Ever since I was acquainted with Dr. Johnson, and many years before, as I have been assured by those who knew him earlier, Mr. Levet had an apartment in his house, or his chambers, and waited upon him every morning, through the whole course of his late and tedious breakfast." Wikipedia [ - ]

Robert Levet, a Yorkshireman who became a Parisian waiter, then garnered some training as an... [ + ]