The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories
The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with  their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had  been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also  served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was  priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition,  only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales,  the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this  move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced  them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General  Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other  prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began  when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000  copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread  throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language,  Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other  publishing companies.