WHISTON (William), an English divine of great parts, uncommon learning, and of a singular character, was born at Norton near Twyrosse in the county of Leicester, where his father was rector, in 1667. He was admitted of Clarehall, Cambridge, where he pursued his studies, particularly in the mathematics, and commenced tutor; which his ill health at length forced him to decline. Having entered into orders, he, in 1694, became chaplain to Dr More bishop of Norwich; and in this station he published his first work, intitled, A New Theory of the Earth, &c. in which he undertook to prove the Mosaic doctrine of the earth
perfectly agreeable to reason and philosophy: which work, though it was wrote against by Mr John Keil, brought no small reputation to the author. In the beginning of this century he was made Sir Isaac Newton's deputy, and afterward his successor, in the Lucasian professorship of mathematics; when he resigned a living he had in Suffolk, and went to reside at Cambridge. About this time he published several scientific works explanatory of the Newtonian philosophy; and he had the honour of being one of the first, if not the very first, who rendered those principles popular and intelligible to the generality of readers. About the year 1710, he was known to have adopted Arian principles, and was forming projects to support and propagate them: among other things, he had translated the Apostolical Constitutions into English, which favoured the Arian doctrine, and which he asserted to be genuine. The consequence was, that he was deprived of his professorship, and banished the university; he nevertheless pursued his scheme, by publishing the next year his Primitive Christianity Revived, 4 vols, 8vo. for which the convocation fell upon him very vehemently. On his expulsion from Cambridge Mr Whiston settled in London; where, without suffering his zeal to be intimidated, he continued to write, and to propagate his Primitive Christianity with as much ardour as if he had been in the most flourishing circumstances. In 1721, a subscription was made for the support of his family, which amounted to 4701. For though he drew profits from reading astronomical and philosophical lectures, and also from his publications, which were very numerous, yet these of themselves would have been very insufficient: nor, when joined with the benevolence and charity of those who loved and esteemed him for his learning, integrity, and piety, did they prevent his being frequently in great distress. He continued long a member of the church of England, and regularly frequented its service, though he disapproved of many things in it: but at last he went over to the Baptists, and attended Dr Forster's meeting at Pinner's Hall, Broadstreet. Among other performances not specified above, he wrote Memoirs of his own life and writings, which contain some curious particulars. He died in 1762.