ALSOP, ANTHONY, an English divine and poet, was educated at Westminster school, and from thence elected to Christ-church, Oxford, where he took the degree of M. A. in March 1696, and of B. D. in December 1706. On his coming to the university, he was very soon distinguished by Dean Aldrich, and published Fabularum Æsopicarum Delectus, Oxon. 1698, 8vo, with a poetical dedication to Lord Viscount Scudamore, and a preface in which he took part against Dr Bentley in the famous dispute with Mr Boyle. He passed through the usual offices in his college to that of censor with considerable reputation; and for some years had the principal noblemen and gentlemen belonging to the society committed to his care. In this employment he continued till his merit recommended him to Sir Jonathan Trelawney, bishop of Winchester, who appointed him his chaplain, and soon after gave him a prebend in his own cathedral, together with the rectory of Brightwell in the county of Berks, which afforded him ample provision for a learned retirement, from which he could not be drawn by the repeated solicitations of those who thought him qualified for a more public character and a higher station. In 1717 an action was brought against him by Mrs Elizabeth Astrey of Oxford, for a breach of a marriage contract; and a verdict obtained against him for 2000l. which probably occasioned him to leave the kingdom for some time. His death, which happened June 10. 1726, was occasioned by his falling into a ditch that led to his garden door. A quarto volume was published in 1752, under the title of Antonii Alsopi, Ædis Christi olim Alumnis, Odarum libri duo. Four English poems of his are in Dodley's Collection, one in Pearc's, several in the early volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine, and some in "The Student." Mr Alsop is respectfully mentioned by the facetious Dr King of the Commons (Vol. i. p. 236), as having enriched the commonwealth of learning, by "Translations of Fables from Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic;" and not less delectingly by Dr Bentley, under the name of "Tony Alsop, a late editor of the Æsopian Fables." (Biog. Dict.)