(William), a famous navigator, descended from a good family in Somersetshire in England, was born in 1652. Losing his father when very young, he was sent to the sea, where he soon distinguished himself, particularly in the South Sea. His voyage round the world is well known, and has gone through many editions. He appears afterward to have engaged in an expedition concerted by the merchants of Bristol to the South Sea, commanded by Captain Woods Rogers; who failed in August 1708, and returned in September 1711; but we have no further particulars of his life or death.