BRITTON

JoHZf, a celebrated writer on architectural antiquities, was bom in 1771 at Kingston St. Michael, near Chippenham, Wilts hire, where his father was a general dealer and small farmer. In 1787 he came to London, and was employed for six years as cellarman in the Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell, and afterwards served in the same capacity in the London Tavern. ' He next entered the employment of a hop merchant in South wark, and then an attorney's office in Gray's Inn. During all this period he had sedulously cultivated his taste for reading during his leisure hours, and took part in the proceedings of several debating societies. In 1799 he accepted an engagement from a Mr. Chapman to write, sing, and recite for him at a theatre in Panton Street, Hay market, 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, song-books, and sinular minor subjects. He soon advanced, however, to a Iiigher grade, and in 1801 appeared the Beauties of Wilts hire, in two volumes, by J. Britton and E. W. 779 Brayley. These coUaborateurs, with others, subsequentiy completed a similar work for all the other counties of England (London, 1801-16, eighteen vols.; 1825, twenty-six vols., Ac.) In 1805 Mr. Britton published his Architectural Antiquities of England in five 4to volumes, which was followed by his Cathedral Antiquities, in fourteen volumes, commenced in 1814 and completed in 1835, and the Dictionary of the Architecture and Archaeology of the Middle Ages, 1832-38. He reached the advanced age of eigh^-six with his faculties almost unimpaired, and died in London on 1st January, 1857.