Roscoe, William, an English lawyer, banker, author, a member of the Unitarian Church, was born in Liverpool March 8, 1753; and died June 30, 1831. He was educated as a lawyer, and practiced until 1796, when he gave up the profession of law for that of literature. His Life of Lorenzo de Medici was published in 1796, and the Life and Pontificate of Leo the Tenth in 1805. He was one of the compilers of a hymn book titled A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Worship, 1818. To this book he contributed nine hymns. Three of Mr. Roscoe's children were hymn writers. A son (William Stanley) and two daughters (Mary Ann and Jane) have written valuable hymns.