Roscoe William

Roscoe, William (1753-1831), historian, was born in Liverpool, and became an attorney first and then a banker. He was an admirer of the French Revolution and an ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery, and entered Parliament as member for Liverpool in 1806. He took great interest in art, and numbered Reynolds, Fuseli, and other artists among his intimates. His best works are undoubtedly his very successful Life of Lorenzo de Medici (1796) and Life and Pontificate of Leo. X. (1805).