Gilbert James French (1817-1886) was an English antiquarian and author. He was born in London and educated at St. Paul's School. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a member of the Royal Archaeological Institute. French was a prolific writer, publishing numerous books and articles on the history and archaeology of England and Wales. His most famous work is An Attempt to Explain the Origin and Meaning of the Early Interlaced Ornamentation (1858), which is considered a classic in the field of Celtic art. He also wrote on the history of the English language, the history of the English church, and the history of English architecture. French was a passionate collector of antiquities, and his collection was bequeathed to the British Museum upon his death. He was also a keen amateur photographer, and his photographs of ancient monuments and archaeological sites are still held in the British Museum's collection.
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