BAMPTON, JOHN (169o?—I 751), English divine, Trinity college, Oxford, M.A. in 1712, became canon of Salisbury, and died on June 2, 1751. His will directs that eight lectures shall be delivered annually at Oxford in the university church on Sun day mornings in full term, "between the commencement of the last month in Lent term and the end of the third week in Act term." The lecturer is to be at least a master of arts of Oxford or Cambridge, chosen by the heads of colleges; no one can be chosen twice. The series began in 178o, though since 1895 elec tions are only made in alternate years through the depreciation of the fund. The lecturer is paid f I 20 ; and the lectures are to be printed and published within two months of their delivery. A com plete list, down to and including those of igloo, is given in the Oxford Historical Register (I goo). The lectures as a whole form a historically interesting collection of apologetic literature; some of the subjects treated have been open to criticism as being out side the terms of the trust : the arguments of some of the series have led to sharp controversies; e.g., the very first, White's in 178o, on the Muslim religion; and in more recent days Mansel's (1858) and Gore's (1891) arousing memorable contentions.