EGAN, PIERCE (1772-1849), English sporting writer, was born in London. He was soon recognized as the best sporting re porter of his day. In 1814 he wrote, set and printed himself The Mistress of Royalty, about the prince regent and Miss Robinson. His best-known work is Life in London (1821), a book typical of the "fast" life of the day, illustrated by Cruikshank. It was one of Thackeray's early favourites (see his Roundabout Papers). It was much imitated, and dramatic versions were produced. A sequel more concerned with the country was perhaps what suggested Pickwick Papers and the Jorrocks books. Among his other books are Boxiana (1818), Life of an Actor (1824), Book of Sports (1832), and Pilgrims of the Thames (1838). He was an authority on slang and contributed to Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue