BRITTON, John, English archaeologist : b. 7 July 1771; d. London, 1 Jan. 1857. In 1787 he came to London, and was employed for six years as cellarman in the Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell, and afterward served in the same capacity in the London Tavern. He next entered the employment of a hop merchant in Southwark, and then an attorney's office in Gray's Inn. During all this period he had sedulously cultivated his taste for read ing during his leisure hours, and took part in the proceedings of several debating socie ties. In 1799 he accepted an engagement from a Mr. Chapman to write, sing and recite for him at a theatre in Panton street, Haymarket,' at a salary of three guineas per week From this period his literary career may be said to have commenced, developing itself at first in the form of pamphlets, songbooks and similar minor subjects. He soon advanced, however, to a higher grade, and in 1801 appeared the first two volumes of the 'Beauties of Wilt shire,' by J. Britton and E. W. Brayley. These
collahorateurs, with others, subsequently com pleted a similar work for all the other counties of England (1801-16, 18 vols.; 1825, 26 vols.). In 1805-14 Britton published his 'Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain' in four volumes, supplemented in 1818-26 by another entitled 'Chronological History and Graphic Illustra tions of Christian Architecture in England) These were followed by his 'Cathedral An tiquities> (in 14 vols., 1814-35); and the 'Dictionary of the Architecture and Archzol ogy of the Middle Ages' (1832-38). In 1848 he attempted to prove that Isaac Barre wrote the letters of Consult his 'Autobi ography' (2 vols., London 1849-50).