WHIS'TON, WILLuof (1667-1752). A cler gyman of the Church of England. He was born at Norton, in Leicestershire. lie studied at home and in a school at Tamworth until 1686, when he went to Cambridge, where he greatly distinguished himself, as a student of mathematics. In 1690 lie took his degree, and obtained a fellowship in 1691. In 1693 he be came chaplain to John Moore, Bishop of Nor wich, and in 16t)8 was presented to the living of Lowestoft, in Suffolk. Meantime, in 1696, had appeared his New Theory of the Earth, a work which procured him a considerable reputa tion. In 1701 he was appointed deputy to Sir Isaac Newton, and in 1703 he was appointed to succeed him in the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge. In addition to time duties of his chair, he engaged in clerical work with much suc cess as a preacher. The development of his theological opinions, however, led him into Arian heresy, and his avowal of his views at once in his preaching and his writings led, in 1710, to his expulsion from his professorship and the university. In the next year appeared the most noted of his original writings, 'la Historical Preface to Primitive Christianity Revived. His
subsequent prosecution in the Church courts dragged along for five years, and in the end Whiston was permitted to remain formally a member of the Church of England.. By many of the clergy, however, much dissatisfaction was expressed. Having no regular means of liveli hood, Whiston was frequently reduced to great straits; hot in the dissemination of his religious opinions he continued unwearied, and his pmffi lications on the subject were numerous. He also busied himself with scientific investigations, and he was one of the first persons to give lectures with experiment in London. In 1715 he instituted a society in London for promoting primitive Christianity, and the meetings were held at his home. He died August 27, 1752. Of his many works his translation of Josephus is best known (1737: many subsequent editions). His Memoirs (1740) appeared during his life.