FRANCIS, Esq. F. A. S. was born about the year 1731, and was the son of Mr Francis Grose, a jeweller of Richmond, by whom the coronation crown of George II. was filled up. Young Grose obtained an independent fortune by the death of his father, which happened in the year 1769. He was paymaster and adjutant in the Surrey militia, but dissipation so far prevented him for some time from paying proper attention to his duty, that in his own humorous mode of expressing himself, he kept but two books of accounts, his right and left hand pockets. The losses which this thoughtless conduct occasioned him, awakened his dormant talents, and he resolved to turn his attention to literary pursuits. His education was classical, to which he united an excellent taste for drawing, which induced him to commence his " Views of Antiquities in England and Wales." He began this work in numbers in 1773, and completed it in 1776; and by it he obtained both reputation and profit, the latter of which his almost unpardonable liberality had rendered extremely needful. In 1777 he added other two volumes to his English views, which included the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, finished in 1778. All his expectations were fully gratified by the publication of this work, and during the remainder of his life he continued to publish others, which in general increased his reputation as an author, and always tended to augment his wealth. In the summer of 1789 he paid a visit to Scotland, and in 1790 began to publish in numbers, his views taken in that country. He next proceeded to Ireland, with a view to give a similar description of that country; but on the 6th of May 1791, while at Dublin in the house of Mr Horne, he was suddenly seized at table with an apoplectick fit, and immediately expired. He was buried in Druncondra churchyard near Dublin.

Although his literature was very respectable, it was even exceeded by his good humour, by his convivial and friendly turn of mind. As both at home and abroad he was always in the best company, his knowledge of the world was so extensive, that his conversation was always useful and entertaining. He was free from the malignity and pride of some authors, for as he felt the independence of his own talents, he scorned to degrade others. Of the most careless, open, and artless disposition, he was often the prey of the designing, and has more than once embarrassed himself by too implicit confidence in the probity of others. A tale of distress never failed to touch his heart, and make the tear of commiseration glide down his cheek.

Besides the works formerly mentioned, he published a treatise on ancient armour and weapons; a classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue, military antiquities, &c.