Thoms
WILLIAM JOHN, an English author; born in Westminster, England, Nov. 16, 1803. He began life as a clerk in the Chelsea Hospital; later was clerk to the House of Lords, and its deputy-librarian in 1863-1882; was secretary of the Camden Society from 1838 till 1873; founder of "Notes and Queries" (1849), and its editor down to 1872. He gave the name ("Atheneum," August, 1846) to the new subject of study, "folklore." His books include: "A Collection of Early Prose Romances" (3 vols., 1828; enlarged ed. 1858); "Lays and Legends of of Various Nations" (4 vols., 1834) "Anecdotes and Traditions Illustrative of Early English History and Literature" (Camden Soc., 1838); "Hannah Lightfoot, Queen Charlotte, and Chevalier D'Eon" (1867); "Human Longevity" (1873); (1873) besides a translation of Worsaae's "Primeval Antiquities of Denmark" (1849); and an edition of Stow's "Survey of London" (1875). He died in London, Aug. 15, 1885.