a port town of Cornwall in England, situated in W. Long. 5° 30'. N. Lat. 50° 15' on a fine bay on the English channel. It is the richest and most trading town in the county, and larger than any three of its boroughs that send members to parliament. It is so commodious a harbour, that ships of the greatest burden come up to its quay. It is guarded by the castle of St Mawes and Pendennis, on a high rock at the entrance: and there is such shelter in the many creeks belonging to it, that the whole royal navy may ride safe here in any wind, it being next to Plymouth and Milford-Haven, the best road for shipping in Great Britain. It is well-built; and its trade is considerably increased since the establishment of the packet-boats here for Spain, Portugal, and the West Indies, which not only bring vast quantities of gold in specie and in bars, on account of the merchants in London; but the Falmouth merchants trade with the Portuguese in ships of their own, and they have a great share also in the gainful pilchard trade. The custom-house for most of the Cornish towns, as well as the head collector, is settled here, where the duties, including those of the other ports, are very considerable. The number of houses in 1664 amounted to 200; in 1801, they amounted to 468; and the number of inhabitants was then stated at 3684 persons.