Watkins's Biographical Dictionary was originally published in 1800, with a second edition in 1825, as An Historical Account of the lives, characters and works of the most eminent persons in every age and nation, from the earliest times to the present. It was compiled by John Watkins, LL.D., and published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green. An Universal Biographical and Historical Dictionary (London, 1800) was a book written and published by John Watkins on academic figures, statesmen, and royalty. The dictionary went through several editions and was translated into several languages, including French and German. Source: Wikipedia (en)