Roscoe, William, 1753-1831

William Roscoe was born in 1753 in Liverpool. Although he trained to become an attorney and worked in that capacity for 20 years, his true passion was literature and the arts, particularly the study of Italy. In 1781, Roscoe married Jane Griffies, to whom he was happily married for over 40 years. Their family of seven sons and three daughters was a close and loving one, something that is well-reflected in the correspondence collected here. Beginning when in his teens, Roscoe had published and circulated some poetry that was well-received by the critics, but it was the Life of Lorenzo published in 1796 that earned him his reputation as a writer and historian. This was followed by a Life of Leo X in 1805, which was not as well-received. Roscoe retired from his career in the law soon after the publication of the Life of Lorenzo and dedicated his time to writing and the arts, as well as farming, abolition and politics. In 1816, a bank in which he was a partner failed and Roscoe was forced to sell his home of Allerton Hall as well as his sizeable collections of books, paintings and manuscripts. Though Roscoe continued working as a writer and as an advocate for culture in Liverpool, his family moved often because of financial worries. Jane Griffies Roscoe died in 1824 and Roscoe himself died at 78, in 1831.

From the description of Papers, 1774-1887, undated, (bulk 1774-1833). (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 302283221

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