MASERES, Francis, British author, born in London, 15 December, 1731 ; died in Reigate, Surrey, 19 May, 1824. His father, a London physician, was the son of a French Huguenot, who settled in London. Francis was educated at Kingston-upon-Thames and at Clare hall, Cambridge, where he was graduated in 1752. He subsequently studied law, was admitted to the bar, and appointed attorney-general of Canada, which office he held till 1773, residing in Quebec. On his return to England he was appointed in August, 1773, to the sinecure place of cursitor baron of the exchequer, which he filled with great reputation till his death, and he was recorder of London for about forty years. He was commonly called Baron Maseres. After his return to London he recommended conciliatory measures in dealing with the American colonies. He was the author of "A Dissertation on the Negative Sign in Algebra" (1758);" The Elements of Plane Trigonometry" (1760); "An Account of the Labors of the British and other Protestant Inhabitants of Quebec in order to obtain a house of Assembly" (1775) ; " The Canadian Freehohler" (3 vols., 1779) ; " Montesquieu's View of the English Constitution translated, with Notes" (1781) ; " The Doctrine of Life Annuities" (1783); numerous papers in the " Philosophical Transactions" : "Scriptores Logarithmici " (6 vols., 1791-1807); and "Scriptores Optici" (1823).