ATTERBURY, Francis, English prelate: b. Middleton Keynes, England, 6 March 1662; d. Paris, 15 Feb. 1732. He distinguished him self at the university as a classical scholar, and gave proofs of an elegant taste for poetry. In 1687 he took his degree of M.A.; is thought to have assisted his pupil, Boyle, in his famous controversy with Bentley on the Epistles of Phalaris. Taking orders in 1691 he settled in London, where he became chaplain to William and Mary, preacher of Bridewell, and lecturer of Saint Bride's, and soon became distinguished by the spirit and elegance of his pulpit com positions, but not without incurring opposition, on the score of their tendency and doctrine, from Hoadly and others. Soon after the ac cession of Queen Anne he was made dean of Carlisle, and besides his dispute with Hoadly on the subject of passive obedience, he aided in the defense of the famous Sacheverell, and wrote
lending his church for the performance of di vine service to the Dutch troops brought over to act against the rebels. Not content with a constitutional opposition, he entered into a cor respondence with the Pretender's party, was apprehended in August 1722, and committed to the Tower; and in the March following a bill was brought into the House of Commons for the infliction of pains and penalties. This meas ure met with considerable opposition in the House of Lords, and was resisted by the bishop, who maintained his innocence with his usual acuteness and dexterity. His guilt, however, has been tolerably well proved by documents since published. He was deprived of his dig nities, and outlawed, and went to Paris, where he chiefly occupied himself in study, and in correspondence with men of letters. But even here, in 1725, he was actively engaged in fomenting discontent in the Highlands of Scot land. As a composer of sermons he still re tains a great portion of his original reputation. His letters, also, are extremely easy and ele gant ; but, as a critic and a controversialist, he is deemed rather dexterous and popular than accurate and profound. Consult the 'Life' by Beeching (London 1909) and 'Memoirs and Correspondence,' edited by F. Williams (ib. 1869).