Richard Twiss

Born in Rotterdam on April 26, 1747, to an English merchant family, Richard Twiss was a British writer whose life mixed travel, collecting, and literary curiosity. He later settled in England and died in Somers Town, London, on March 5, 1821.

Twiss is remembered mainly for his travel writing. He toured widely in Europe and published books drawn from those journeys, including work on Spain that helped build his reputation with readers interested in foreign places, customs, and practical observations.

His interests were broader than travel alone. Twiss was also known for writing about chess, and in 1774 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, a sign that he moved in educated and well-connected circles of his time.