, author of a valuable History of Jamaica, was the fourth son of Samuel
, author of a valuable History of Jamaica, was the fourth son of Samuel Long, esq. of Longville, in the island of Jamaica, and Tredudwell in the
county of Cornwall, by his wife Mary, second daughter of
Bartholomew Tate, of Delapre in the county of Northampton, esq. He was born Aug. 23, 1734, at Rosilian, in the
parish of St. Blaize, in Cornwall. He was placed first at
Bury school, under Dr. Kinnesman, and was removed
thence about 1746, probably on account of his father’s
residence in the country, to a school at Liskeard, in Cornwall, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Haydon. In
1752 he left this place, and after two years private instruction in London, he was entered at Gray’s Inn, and fixed
with Mr. Wflmot. His father dying, in 1757, in Jamaica,
he resolved to embark for that Island; but, not having
completed his terms, he obtained an ex gratia call to the
bar before he sailed. On his arrival in Jamaica, he at first
filled the post of private secretary to his brother-in-law,
sir Henry Moore, bart. then lieutenant-governor of the
island; and was afterwards appointed judge of the vice-admiralty court. On Aug. 12, 1758, he married Mary, second daughter, and at length sole heiress, of Thomas
Beckford, esq. Mr. Long’s ill health compelled him to
leave the island in 1769; and he never returned to it, but
passed the remainder of his life in retirement, devoting his
leisure to literary pursuits, and particularly to the com 7
pletion of his “History of Jamaica,
” which was published
in History of Jamaica,
” Mr. Long contributed to public information or amusement by a variety of
lesser productions. Early in life he wrote some essays in
“The Prater, by Nicholas Babble, esq.
” The
Antigallican, or the History and Adventures of Harry Cobham, esq.
” The Trial of farmer Carter’s Dog Porter, for murder,
” Reflections on the Negro Cause,
” The Sentimental Exhibition, or Portraits and Sketches of the Times,
”
Letters on the Colonies,
” English Humanity no Paradox,
” The Sugar Trade, 1782, 8vo. He was likewise
editor of
” Memoirs of the Reign of Bossa Ahaclee, king
of Dahomy, with a short account of the African slave
trade, by Robert Norris," 1789, v 8vo.