GIBSON, DR. EDMUND, Bishop of London, born 1669, died 1748. Bishop Gibson was the sou of Edmund and Jane Gibson, of the parish of Bampton, in Westmorland. He pursued his studies with great vigour, first in his own county and then in the University of Oxford, of which perhaps the best proof that could be required is given by his having at the age of twenty-two prepared an edition of the ' Saxon Chronicle,' with a translation into Latin, aud suitable indexes and other assistauces in the use of that valuable historical remain. The work was printed at Oxford in 1692 in a 4to volume. At that early period of his life he projected and accomplished an enlarged edition of the English translation of Camden's 'Britannia,' aud he had already acquired fame and interest sufficient to engage in his assistance many antiquaries in different parts of the kingdom, by whose contributions the work was enriched, and came forth from the hands of Dr. Gibson a great improvement on the old English edition of Philemon Holland.
This work appeared in 2 vols. fol. in 1695. It appeared again in an enlarged form in 1722, and again in 1772. Richard Gough, an eminent topographical scholar, enlarged it still more, and it appeared iu 3 vole.
fol. in 1789. It was still further enlarged to 4 vols. fol. in 1806. Another early production of Dr. Gibsou was an edition of some his torical remains of the eminent antiquary Sir lleury Spelinan, which was published at Oxford in 1698, under the title ' Reliquite Spelman merge.' These works show the original predisposition of Lishopliibsou's mind; but he did not at that period of his life confine himself to historical literature, for in 1693 he produced an edition of Quintilian,' which is highly esteemed.
The proof of industry and learning which these works afforded introduced him to the notice and favour of Tenison, who in 1694 succeeded Tillotson as archbishop of Canterbury. He was made domestic chaplain to the archbishop, and rector of the parish of Lambeth. He was also made archdeacon of Surrey.
In the reigns of King William and Qneen Anne there was a warm controversy concerning the nature and authority of the convocation of tho clergy. In this controversy Dr. Gibson took a very active part,
defending the power of that assembly, in which his historical know. ledge was made to bear powerfully on the question. This led to the publication which is regarded as his great work, the Codex Juris Ecclesiastici Anglicani,' Ivols. fol., 1713, in which he has collected the statutes, constitutions, canons, rdbrics, and articles of the Church of England, and digested them methodically under proper heads, with suitable commentaries, prefaces, and appendices, forming together a work which is indispensable to the studies of those who desire to understand thoroughly the history of the English Church. It was reprinted at Oxford in 1761.
In 1715 Dr. Gibson was promoted to the bishopric of Lincoln, and in 1723 translated to London. Wake, the archbishop of Canterbury, was at that time in an infirm state of health, and so continued for some years, during which period the Bishop of London was the person chiefly consulted by the court in affairs belonging to the Church.
Bishop Gibson was ever a strenuous defender of the rights of the Church, considered as a political community ; but he was of what is called the liberal school in respect of doctrines, and he warmly approved of the liberty which the law had granted in his time to persons not conforming to the Church, to meet together publicly for social worship in whatever way and on whatever principles they might themselves approve. He published a large collection of treatises which had been written by divines in the English Church against popery, forming three folio volumes, printed in 1738. His Pastoral Letters' is the laid of his works we have occasion to mention, in which be combats at once unbelief and enthusiasm.
In his private relations Bishop Gibson was greatly beloved and respected. He died in 1748, and was buried at Fulham, with many of his predecessors.