Francis Grose

:"This article is about the writer. For his son, the Governor of New South Wales, see Francis Grose (Lieutenant-Governor)."

Francis Grose (1731–1791), antiquary and lexicographer, of Swiss extraction, was Richmond Herald from 1755 to 1763. He published "Antiquities of England and Wales" (1773–87), which was well received, and thereafter, in 1789, set out on an antiquarian tour through Scotland, the fruit of which was "Antiquity of Scotland" (1789–91). He afterwards undertook a similar expedition to Ireland, but died suddenly at Dublin. In addition to the works above mentioned he wrote "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" (1785), "A Provincial Glossary" (1787), a "Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons", etc. He was an accomplished draughtsman, and illustrated his works.

External links

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* [http://fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/ fromoldbooks.org version] with one page per entry, links to examples and another canting (thieving) dictionary.

Additionally, it is noted that he is the author of,"Advice to the Officers of the British Army: With the addition of some Hints to the Drummer and Private Solidier" which was published in 1783 as a mocking look backwards on the conduct of the war against the American Colonies. Every instance of corruption, disregard, and vice are suggested for every rank of the army. Tongue in cheek, but obviously rooted in truth, it is a great companion to "Vulgar Tongue"