The antiquarian friend of Surtees and Sir Walter Scott was born in Sunderland and educated under Dr Burney at Greenwich. After serving as a cavalry officer c 1799 in the Irish rebellion, he devoted himself to antiquarian studies and published his History of Hartlepool in 1816, the year he was knighted by the visiting Prince Regent. In 1823, he became collector of customs at Sunderland and was appointed to the same post in Newcastle in 1845. He also wrote the Bishopric Garland, the Life of Ambrose Barnes (1828) and The Worme of Lambton (1830). His uncle was Brass Crosby (q.v.).