| AdminHistory | William Roscoe (1753-1831), historian and patron of the arts, born Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, 8 March 1753. Unitarian. Admitted an attorney of the king's bench, 1774, and entered into partnership with a firm which came to be known as Aspinall, Roscoe, and Lace, a profession he followed for twenty years. Married Jane née Griffies (1757-1824), 22 February 1781, seven sons and three daughters.
Interested in Italian literature and art. Patronised Henry Fuseli, artist. Wrote a biography of Lorenzo de' Medici, the first to appear in English, published 1796, and Life of Pope Leo X, Son of Lorenzo de' Medici, published 1805. Bough Allerton Hall, Liverpool, 1793, after retiring from legal profession.
Elected independent candidate for Liverpool in 1806 and became an advocate for abolition of the slave trade. Became a partner in the Clarke family bank, which collapsed in 1816 and forced Roscoe to sell Allerton Hall and his collections.
With Dr Traill founded the Royal Institution, Liverpool, in 1817. Edited a new edition of Alexander Pope's works from 1821, including a new biography.
Died 27 June 1831. |