DOUCE

douce, francis (1757-1834), english antiquary, was born in london in 1757. his father was a clerk in chancery. after completing his education he entered his father's office, but soon quitted it to devote himself to the study of antiquities. he became a prominent member of the society of antiquaries, and for a time held the post of keeper of manuscripts in the british museum, but was compelled to resign it owing to a quarrel with one of the trustees. in 1807 he published his _illustrations of shakespeare and ancient manners_ (2 vols. 8vo), which contained some curious information, along with a great deal of trifling criticism and mistaken interpretation. an unfavourable notice of the work in _the edinburgh review_ greatly irritated the author, and made him unwilling to venture any further publications. he contributed, however, a considerable number of papers to the _archaeologia_ and _the gentleman's magazine_. in 1833 he published a _dissertation on the various designs of the dance of death_, the substance of which had appeared forty years before. he died on the 30th of march 1834. by his will he left his printed books, illuminated manuscripts, coins, &c., to the bodleian library; his own manuscript works to the british museum, with directions that the chest containing them should not be opened until the 1st of january 1900; and his paintings, carvings and miscellaneous antiquities to sir samuel meyrick, who published an account of them, entitled _the doucean museum_.