(Robert), a late eminent bookseller, and ingenious writer, born at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, in the year 1703. He was not indebted to education for his literary fame, being originally a livery servant; but his natural genius, and early passion for reading, soon elevated him to a superior station. He wrote an elegant little satirical farce called The Toyshop, which was acted with applause in 1735, and which recommended him to the patronage of Mr Pope. The following year he produced the King and Miller of Mansfield. The profits of these two farces enabled him to commence bookseller, and his own merit procured him eminence in that profession. He wrote some other dramatic pieces, and published a collection of his works in one vol. 8vo, under the modest title of Triplet; which was followed by Public Virtue, a poem in 4to. Besides what he wrote himself, the public were obliged to him for exerting his judgment in the way of his business; he having collected several volumes of well chosen Miscellaneous Poems and Fugitive Pieces, whose brevity would else have endangered their being totally lost to posterity. He died in 1764.