STILLINGFLEET, Benjamin, an ingenious naturalist, born in 1702, was the grandson of Dr Stillingfleet, Bishop of Worcester. His father, Edward Stillingfleet, M.D., was fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, and Gresham professor of physic; but marrying in 1692, he lost his lucrative offices and his father's favour; a misfortune that affected both himself and his posterity. Benjamin, his only son, was educated at Norwich school, which he left in 1720, with the character of an excellent scholar. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, at the request of Dr Bentley, the master, who had been private tutor to his father, domestic chaplain to his grandfather, and much indebted to his family. Here he was a candidate for a fellowship, but was rejected,
as he believed, by Bentley's influence. Perhaps, however, this seeming ingratitude was not of any real disservice to Stillingfleet. By being thrown into the world, he formed many honourable and valuable connections. He dedicated some translations of Linnaeus to the late Lord Lyttelton, partly, he says, from motives of private respect and honour. Lord Barrington gave him, in a very polite manner, the place of master of the barracks at Kensington; a favour to which Stillingfleet, in the dedication of his Calendar of Flora to that nobleman, alludes with the warmest gratitude. His Calendar of Flora was formed at Stratton in Norfolk in the year 1755, at the seat of his friend Marsham, who had made several observations of that kind, and had communicated to the public his curious observations on the growth of trees. But it was to Wyndham of Felbrig in Norfolk that he appears to have had the greatest obligation; he travelled abroad with him, spent much of his time at his house, and was appointed one of his executors (Mr Garrick being another), with a considerable addition to an annuity which that gentleman had settled upon him in his lifetime.
Stillingfleet's genius seems, if we may judge from his works, to have led him principally to the study of natural history. In his walk of learning he mentions as his friends, Dr Watson, Dr Solander, Mr Hudson, Mr Price of Foxley, and some others; to whom may be added the ingenious Mr Pennant.
Stillingfleet published a volume of Miscellaneous Tracts in 1759. They are chiefly translations of some essays in the Amanitates Academicae, published by Linnaeus, interspersed with some observations and additions of his own. His Essay on Conversation, a poem, was published in the first volume of Doddsley's Collection. His London residence was in lodgings in Piccadilly, where he died in 1771, at the age of sixty-nine, leaving several valuable papers behind him. Coxe has written a notice of his life and works, 1811.