OUGHTRED (William), an eminent mathemati-
cian, was born at Eton in 1573, and educated in the
school there, whence he was elected to king's college
in Cambridge, of which he afterwards became fellow.
Having received holy orders, he left the university a-
bout the year 1603, and was presented to the rectory
of Aldbury, near Guildford in Surrey; and about the
year 1628, was appointed by the earl of Arundel to
instruct his son in the mathematics. He kept a corre-
spondence by letters with some of the most eminent
scholars of his time, upon mathematical subjects; and
the most celebrated mathematicians of that age owed
most of their skill to him, whose house was full of
young gentlemen that came from all parts to receive
his instruction. It is said, that, upon hearing the news
of the vote at Westminster for the restoration of king
Charles II. he expired in a sudden transport of joy,
aged 88. He wrote, 1. Clavis Mathematica, which
was afterwards published in English. 2. A description
of the double horizontal dial. 3. Opuscula Mathema-
tica; and several other works. He left also behind him
a great number of papers upon mathematical subjects,
which are now in the museum of William Jones, Esq;
F. R. S.