William Roscoe was born March 8, 1753, in Liverpool. In 1774 he became an attorney and during his long life proved a great supporter of the city and its arts. Of the several volumes of poetry that he published, some on the slavery trade, others on Liverpool and its environs, only one poem, The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast, which he wrote for his son Robert, had lasting popularity. It first appeared in Gentleman's Magazine in November 1806 and in a volume of its own, in 1807, issued by John Harris, who initiated with it a series of children's books. He died on June 30, 1831, in Liverpool. His Poetical Works were published posthumously in London in 1853. For a life, see George Chandler, William Roscoe of Liverpool (London: B. T. Batsford, 1953; PR 5236 R56 1953 Robarts Library).
Given name: William
Family name: Roscoe
Birth date: 8 March 1753
Death date: 30 June 1831
Nationality: English
Family relations
father: William Roscoe
mother: Elizabeth Roscoe
wife: Jane Roscoe (from 22 February 1781)
son: Henry Roscoe
son: Robert Roscoe
son: Thomas Roscoe
daughter: Jane Elizabeth Hornblower
daughter: Mary Anne Jevons
Languages
English
French
Italian
Greek
Education: School in Paradise Street, Liverpool: 1759
Politics: Whig
Honours
First president of the Liverpool Royal Institution: 1817
Honorary Associate, Royal Society of Literature: 1824
Literary period: Romantic
Occupations
Historian
Attorney
Member of Parliament: October 1806
Residences
Lodge Lane, Toxteth Park, Liverpool to 30 June 1831
Old Bowling Green House, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool: 8 March 1753
Allerton Hall, near Liverpool: 1799
Illness: Paralysis: December 1827
Cause of death: Influenza
Buried at: Chapel in Renshaw Street, Liverpool
First RPO edition: 1998