(Dr William), an unfortunate English divine, eldest son of the Rev. William Dodd, many years vicar of Bourne in Lincolnshire, was born May 29, 1729. He was sent, at the age of 16, to the university of Cambridge; and admitted, in the year 1745, a fellow of Clare-Hall. In 1749-50 he took the degree of B.A. with great honour, being upon that occasion in the list of wranglers. Leaving the university, he imprudently married a Miss Mary Perkins in 1751, was ordained a deacon the same year, priest in 1753, and soon became a celebrated and popular preacher. His first peripetey was the lectureship of West Ham. In 1754 he was also chosen lecturer of St Olave's, Hart-Street; and in 1757 took the degree of M.A. at Cambridge. On the foundation of the Magdalen Hospital in 1758, he was a strenuous supporter of that charity, and soon after became preacher at the chapel of it. By the patronage of Bishop Squire, he in 1763 obtained a prebend of Brecon, and by the interest of some city-friends procured himself to be appointed one of the king's chaplains; soon after which, he had the education of the present earl of Chesterfield committed to his care. In 1766 he went to Cambridge and took the degree of L.L.D. At this period, the estimation in which he was held by the world was sufficient to give him expectations of preferment, and hopes of riches and honours; and these he might probably have acquired, had he possessed a common portion of prudence and discretion. But, impatient of his situation, and eager for advancement, he rashly fell upon means which in the end were the occasion of his ruin. On the living of St George, Hanover-Square, becoming vacant, he wrote an anonymous letter to the chancellor's lady, offering 3000 guineas if by her assistance he was promoted to it. This being traced to him, complaint was immediately made to the king, and Dr Dodd was dismissed with disgrace from his office of chaplain. From this period he lived neglected, if not despised; and his extravagance still continuing, he became involved in difficulties, which tempted him to forge a bond from his late pupil lord Chesterfield, Feb. 4, 1777, for £4200, which he actually received: but being detected, he was tried at the Old Bailey, found guilty, and received sentence of death; and, in spite of every application for mercy, was executed at Tyburn, June 27, 1777. Dr Dodd was a voluminous writer, and possessed considerable abilities, with little judgment and much vanity. An accurate list of his various writings is prefixed to his "Thoughts in Prison," ed. 1781.