J Frost
J Frost was a British swimming instructor from Nottingham, England. He wrote the first American edition of The Art of Swimming. A Series of Practical Instructions on an Original and Progressive Plan that includes Dr. Franklin's Treatise. The first British edition was published in London in 1816 and titled Scientific Swimming. A Series of Practical Illustrations on an Original and Progressive Plan. This work was called "the second original English treatise (on swimming) with Everard Digby being the original with his "De Arte Natandi Libri Duo" from 1589.
Frost wrote some original ideas relating to swimming including the importance of floating, of learning strokes on land, the wearing of a thin calico bathing suit, the use of a thin board with cork to float, and more.
In his 72-page book with 12 engraved illustrations and published by P.W. Gallaudet, he reprints the text of a 1760 letter from Benjamin Franklin to Oliver Neale with swimming instructions which proved influential in subsequent instructional works, called Dr. Franklin's Treatise.
