WHEWELL, WILLIAM (1794-1866), British philosopher and Master of Trinity, historian of science, was born on May at Lancaster. He was an exhibitioner of Trinity college, Cambridge, second wrangler in 1816, became fellow and tutor of his college, and, in 1841, succeeded Dr. Wordsworth as master. He was professor of mineralogy from 1828 to 1832, and of moral philosophy (then called "moral theology and casuistical divinity") from 1838 to 1855. He died on March 6, 1866.
Whewell was a famous Cambridge figure of his day, and there are many amusing stories about him. His first work, An Ele mentary Treatise on Mechanics (1819), co-operated with those of Peacock and Herschel in reforming the Cambridge method of mathematical teaching; to him in large measure was due the recognition of the moral and natural sciences as an integral part of the Cambridge curriculum (1850). In general, however, especially in later years, he opposed reform : he defended the tutorial system, and in a controversy with Thirlwall (1834) opposed the admission of Dissenters; he upheld the clerical fellowship system, the privileged class of "fellow-commoners," and the authority of heads of colleges in university affairs. He opposed
the appointment of the University Commission (185o), and wrote two pamphlets (Remarks) against the reform of the university (1855). He advocated as the true reform, against the scheme of entrusting elections to the members of the senate, the use of col lege funds and the subvention of scientific and professorial work.
His philosophical reputation rests mainly on his History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Time (1837), which was intended as an introduction to the Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences (1840).
Whewell's other works include Elements of Morality, including Polity (1845) ; the essay, Of the Plurality of Worlds (1854), in which he argued against the probability of planetary life ; the Platonic Dialogues for English Readers (1859-61) ; Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy in England (1852) ; an edition and abridged translation of Grotius, De iure belli et pacis (1853), and an edition of the Mathe matical Works of Isaac Barrow (186o).
Full bibliographical details are given by Isaac Todhunter, W. Whewell: an Account of his Writings (2 vols., 1876).