TILLOTSON, JOHN (1630-1694), English archbish op, was the son of a Puritan clothier in Sowerby, Yorkshire, where he was born in October 1630. He was a fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge, and about 1661 he was ordained without subscription by T. Sydserf, a Scottish bishop. Tillotson was present at the Savoy Con ference in 1661, and remained identified with the Presbyte rians till the passing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662. Shortly afterwards he became curate of Cheshunt, Herts., and in June 1663, rector of Kedington, Suffolk. He now devoted himself to an exact study of biblical and patristic writers, especially Basil and Chry sostom. The result of this reading, and of the influence of John Wilkins, master of Trinity College, Cambridge, was seen in the general tone of his preaching, which was practical rather than theological. In 1664 he became preacher at Lincoln's Inn. The same year he married Elizabeth French, a niece of Oliver Crom well; and he also became Tuesday lecturer at St. Lawrence, Jewry. In 1670 he became prebendary and in 1672 dean of Canterbury. In 1675 he edited John Wilkins's Principles of Natural Religion, completing what was left unfinished of it, and in 1682 his Sermons.
With Burnet, Tillotson attended Lord Russell on the scaffold in 1683. It was partly through Lady Russell that he obtained in fluence with Princess Anne, who followed his advice in regard to the settlement of the crown on William of Orange. He possessed the special confidence of William and Mary, and was made clerk of the closet to the king and dean of St. Paul's. On his advice the king appointed an ecclesiastical commission for the reconciliation of the Dissenters. He was elected to succeed the Nonjuror San crof t as archbishop of Canterbury, but accepted the promotion with extreme reluctance, and it was deferred from time to time, at his request, till April 1691. In 1693 he published four lectures on the Socinian controversy. He died on Nov. 22, Ralph Barker edited his Sermons together with the "Rule of Faith" (14 vols. 1695-1704). In 1752 an edition of his Complete Works appeared in 3 vols., with Life by Thomas Birch.