WAKE (William), archbishop of Canterbury, was born in 1657, and educated at Oxford. When he entered into holy orders, he was appointed preacher to the society of Gray's Inn; and in the reign of James II. attended lord Preston, ambassador to France, as his chaplain. Upon his return to England, he distinguished himself by several tracts against Popery; particularly against the bishop of Meaux's Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholic Church. After the revolution, he was appointed deputy-clerk of the closet, and chaplain in ordinary to king William and queen Mary, and the year following was made canon of Christchurch. In 1694 he was collated to the rectory of St James's, Westminster; and in 1701 was installed dean of Exeter. In 1705 he was consecrated to the see of Lincoln, and in 1715-16, translated to the archbishopric of Canterbury. He died at Lambeth in 1737. Beside sermons, he published several pieces, particularly
an English version of the Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers, &c.