BURNET, GILBERT (1643-1715). A British prelate and historian. He was born in Edin burgh, September 18, l643, the youngest son of Lord Crimond. At the age of 10 he entered Marischal College, Abercken, being admitted M.A. at the age of 14. He inclined to the study of civil and feudal law, but at his father's wish, applied himself to divinity, and at 1S was or dained. In 1663, he made a six months' stay in Oxford and Cambridge, visited London. and next year journeyed through Holland and France, in Amsterdam perfecting himself, under a learned rabbi, in the Hebrew language. In 1665 he be came minister of Saltoun; in 1669, professor of divinity in Glasgow University, but resigned in 1674. having incurred the enmity of his patron Lauderdale, by mixing in the polemics of the time. lie removed to London, and was made preacher of the Rolls Chapel and lecturer at Saint Clement's. In 1676 he published his ,Memoirs of the Bakes of Hamilton, and in 1679 the first volume of his History of the Reforma tion, for which he received a vote of thanks from Parliament. Next year appeared Some Passages in the Life and Death of the Purl of Rochester, in which Burnet records the religious interviews which led to that profligate nobleman's conversion to Christhinity. In I681 he published the second volume of his history of the Reformation, and in 16•S his Life of Sir Matthew Hale. Renewed efforts were made to induce him is break with the Liberal Party and to attach himself to the King. Ile was offered the Bishopric of Chichester, but refused it, and in 1683 narrowly escaped trouble in connection with the Bye House Plot. He conducted the defense, and attended the execution and vindi cated the memory of his friend Lord William Russell. The King retaliated by depriving Bur net of his Saint Clement's lectureship. On the succession of James 1I. lie went to the Continent, and traveled through France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. In 1684 he was introduced to
the Prince of Orange, and, when William went to England, accompanied him as royal chaplain, shortly after being appointed Bishop of Salis bury. lie entered on his duties with ardor, but his first pastoral letter, in which he based the right of William to the throne on conquest, gave offense to Parliament, and they ordered it to be burned by the common hangman. William, who knew the excellent qualities of the Bishop, was not impressed by this solemn performance, and continued to trust Burnet to the end of his life. In 1698 Burnet was appointed preceptor of the Duke of Gloucester, and in l699 published his exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles, which was condemned as heterodox by the Ilouse of Lords. ln 1714 appeared the third volume of his History of the Reformation. He died of pleurisy in Lou don, March 17, 1715. Soon after his death ap peared Bishop Burnet's History of Ills Own Time, from the Restoration. of King Charles II. to the conclusion, of the Treaty of Peaee at Utrecht, in the Reign of Queen Anne. It was sarcastically but foolishly abused by Swift, Pope, .Arbuthnot, and other Tory writers of the day. Burnet was a Broad Churchman, and was a man of almostpuri tanie virtue. He was distinguished by charity, geniality, and moderation. His style is neither elegant nor correct. and his judgment not always reliable; but honest simplicity and vigor, as well as fullness of detail, make his works valuable to the student of history. The best editions are time History of His Own Mlle (6' vols., Oxford, 1833); History of the Reformation, edited by Pocock (7 vols., Oxford, 1865). Consult "Bi ography of Burnet, by Ilis Son." in the History of his Own Time.