BRIGGS

BRIGGS (William), an eminent physician in the latter end of the 17th century, was the son of Augustin Briggs, Esq; four times member for the city of Norwich, where our author was born. He studied at the university of Cambridge; and his genius leading him to the study of physic, he travelled into France, where he attended the lectures of the famous anatomist M. Vieussens, at Montpellier. After his return, he published his Ophthalmographia in 1676. The year following he was created doctor of medicine at Cambridge, and soon after was made fellow of the college of physicians at London. In 1682, he quitted his fellowship to his brother; and the same year, his Theory of vision was published by Hooke. The ensuing year he sent to the royal society a continuation of that discourse, which was published in their Transactions; and the same year, he was by King Charles II. appointed physician to St Thomas's hospital. In 1684, he communicated to the royal society two remarkable cases relating to vision, which were likewise printed in their Transactions; and in 1685 he published a Latin version of his Theory of vision, at the desire of Mr Newton, afterwards Sir Isaac, professor of mathematics at Cambridge, with a recommendatory epistle from him prefixed to it. He was afterwards made physician in ordinary to king William, and continued in great esteem for his skill in his profession till he died September 4th 1704.