ROSCOE, WILLIAM, the eminent historian of Lorenzo dc' Medici and Leo X., was b. near Liverpool on March 8, 1753. His father was a market-gardener, whose assistant is this business lie became in his twelfth year, after receiving the rudim,ents of learning at a common school. In this occupation he conti.med for about three years, during which his fondness for reading developed itself; and in 1769, after making trial for a year of a book-seller's shop, he was articled to an attorney at Liverpool, where, in 1774, being admitted an attorney of the court of king's bench, he began to practice on his own account. During all this period he assiduously cultivated his mental powers, turning his attention to the_ classics, and especially to the Italian language and literature. In 1773 he first appeared in print as the author of a poem; and in 1777 a Collection of some of his earlier pieces was published, containing his first protest against the slave-trade, of which, throughout his life, lie was a strenuous opponent. In 1796 was published the first volume of his Life of Lorenzo de' Medici, called Me 31agill:17cent, which had been begun many years before, and in the composition of which he was greatly aided by the collec tion for him of valuable materials in Italy, from sources in print and manuscript, by his friend Mr. Clarke. The success of this work was extraordinary, and it at once estab lished his literary reputation. file work was received with the highest approbation by those who were best able to appreciate its merits, both in England and on the continent, especially in Italy; it went through several editions, and was translated into German, French, and Italian. In 1S05 appeared his second great work, the Life and Pontifcate
of Leo X., for which, with the assistance of others, lie had been collecting materials for ninny years. This work also, which, like the former, appeared successively in German, French, and Italian, was received with much commendation by the most impartial judges, though its tone and spirit, especially with reference to the, reformation, was severely criticised by others.
Roscoe at one time had thoughts of adopting the bar as a profession; but about the year 1800, he beeame partner in a Liverpool bank, a step which involved him eventually in great pecuniary embarrassment. In 1806 he was returned to parliament for Liver poi)l in the Whig interest, and had the gratification of taking part in the abolition of the slave-trade, but did not again come forward after the dissolution in 1S07. He was, throughout, a consistent opponent of the war with France, against which he published several pamphlets, and was on all points thc• advocate of liberal opinions. lie took an active part in founding the Liverpool royal institution, and was a zealous promoter of literature, and patron of the fine arts. Roscoe died at Liverpool, June 30, 1831. During the latter years of his life, lie devoted himself much to the study of botany, and in honor of him a rare genus of monandriau plants received in 1826 the name Roscoaa.