Crossley, James (1800-03-31 - 1883-08-01)

James Crossley was born on 31 March 1800 in Halifax, Yorkshire. In 1817, Crossley became articled to Thomas Ainsworth, a solicitor in Manchester. Between 1819 and 1821, he wrote articles for journals, including Blackwood's Magazine and the Retrospective Review. Subsequently, he travelled to London to complete his legal training at King's Bench Walk. In 1823, he became a partner in the law firm Ainsworth, Crossley, and Sudlow. Crossley was elected as the first president of the Manchester Law Association in 1838. He retired from the legal profession in 1860. Crossley is best remembered today for his role as president of the Chetham Society, a post he held from 1847 until his death in 1883. Known as Manchester's 'Doctor Johnson', he made a lasting contributon to Defoe scholarship in his attribution of a considerable number of works to the author. James Crossley died on 1 August 1883.