BRIGGS, William, an eminent physician in the latter end of the seventeenth 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 cultivate physic, he travelled into France, where he attended the lectures of the celebrated anatomist M. Viensens 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 resigned his fellowship in favour of 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 appointed by King Charles II. 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. afterwards Sir Isaac Newton, professor of mathematics at Cam-
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helmstone bridge, with a recommendatory epistle from him prefixed to it. He was afterwards appointed physician in ordinary to King William, and continued in great esteem for professional skill till his death, which took place in September 1704.