Francis Place

Francis Place 1771-1854, English radical reformer. A tailor for many years, he educated himself and made his shop a meeting center for radicals and reformers. He was especially active in the trade-union movement; through his efforts the antiunion Combination Acts of 1799-1800 were repealed (1824). He was also an early leader of the Chartists (see Chartism ), helping to draft the "People's Charter." His pamphlets on social questions include Illustrations and Proofs of the Principle of Population (1822), one of the earliest tracts on birth control.

Bibliography: See his autobiography, ed. by M. Thale (1972); biographies by G. Wallas (4th ed. 1925, repr. 1951) and M. Dudley (1988).

Place, Francis (1647–1728). English gentleman draughtsman and printmaker, active mainly in York. In 1665 he met Hollar in London (where he had initially intended to study law) and this seems to have been the decisive factor in his taking up art seriously. His early topographical and architectural drawings are near to Hollar's in style, but his later drawings rely on a fuller use of wash, anticipating the technique that became characteristic of 18th-century watercolour painting. Place also made portraits and was a pioneer of the mezzotint technique. His work is best represented in York Art Gallery.

Place, Francis (b Dinsdale, Co. Durham, 1647; d York, 21 Sept. 1728). English gentleman draughtsman and printmaker, active mainly in York. In 1665 he met Hollar in London (where he had initially intended to study law) and this seems to have been the decisive factor in his taking up art seriously. His early topographical and architectural drawings are near to Hollar's in style, but his later drawings rely on a fuller use of wash, anticipating the technique characteristic of 18th-century watercolour painting. Place also made portraits and was a pioneer of the mezzotint technique. His work is best represented in York Art Gallery.