(John) was descended from an ancient family in Somersetshire: he was a violent party-writer and malevolent critic, who would scarcely have been remembered, if Pope, in resentment of his abuse, had not condemned him to immortality in his Dunciad. His party-writings procured him a place in the revenue at Liverpool, where he died at an advanced age in the year 1745. Besides his fugitive temporary pieces, he wrote a history of the Stuarts in folio; a critical history of England, 2 vols 8vo; a volume of poems, some dramatic pieces, &c.; none of them worthy of notice, his principal talent being that of falsifying history.