WHICHCOTE (or WHITCHCOTE), BENJAMIN (1609 1683), English divine and philosopher, was born at Whichcote hall, Stoke, Shropshire, and educated at Emmanuel college, Cam bridge, where he became fellow in 1633. In 1644 he became provost of King's college, Cambridge, in place of Samuel Collins who was ejected. In 165o he was vice-chancellor of Cambridge university. Cromwell in 1655 consulted him over extending toler ance to the Jews. His Puritan views lost him the provostship of King's college at the Restoration of 1660, but on complying with the Act of Uniformity he received the living of St. Anne's,
Blackfriars, London and in 1668, of St. Lawrence Jewry, London. He is regarded as the founder of the school of Cambridge Plato nists. He died in May 1683.
See John Tulloch, Rational Theology, ii. 59-84 ; and Masters in English Theology, edited by A. Barry (1877).