GIBSON, Dr Edmund, bishop of London, was born in Westmoreland in 1699. He applied himself early and vigorously to learning, and displayed his knowledge in several writings and translations, which recommended him to the patronage of Archbishop Tennyson. He was appointed domestic chaplain to his grace; and soon afterwards became rector of Lambeth, and archdeacon of Surrey. Becoming thus a member of the convocation, he engaged in a controversy, which was carried on with great warmth by the members of both houses, and defended his patron's rights, as president, in eleven pamphlets; he then formed and completed his more comprehensive scheme of the legal duties and rights of the English clergy, which was at length published under the title of Codex Juris Ecclesiastici Anglicani, in folio. Archbishop Tennyson having died in 1715, and Dr Wake bishop of Lincoln having become archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Gibson succeeded the latter in the see of Lincoln, and in 1720 was promoted to the bishopric of London. He now not only governed his diocese with the most exact regularity, but by his great care promoted the spiritual affairs of the church of England colonies in the West Indies. He was extremely jealous of the privileges belonging to the church; and therefore, though he approved of the toleration of the Protestant Dissenters, he continually guarded against all the attempts made to procure a repeal of the corporation and test acts; but his opposition to those licentious assemblies called masquerades gave great umbrage at court, and effectually excluded him from all further favours. He spent the latter part of his life in writing and printing pastoral letters, visitation-charges, occasional sermons, and tracts against the prevailing immoralities of the age. His pastoral letters are justly esteemed as the most masterly productions against infidelity and enthusiasm. His most celebrated work, the Codex, has been already mentioned. His other publications are, 1. An edition of Drummond's Polemio-Middinia, and James V. of Scotland's Cantilena Rutila, with notes; 2. the Chronicon Saxonicum, with a Latin translation, and notes; 3. Reliquiae Spelmanniane, the posthumous works of Sir Henry Spelman, relating to the laws and antiquities of England; 4. An edition of Quintilian's De Arte Oratoria, with notes; 5. An English translation of Camden's Britannia, with additions, two volumes folio; and, 6. A number of small pieces, which have been collected together and printed in three volumes folio. His intense application to study impaired his health; notwithstanding which, he attained the age of seventy-nine. He expired in September 1748, after an episcopate of nearly thirty-three years.