(Dr Robert), an eminent divine, was the son of Mr William South a merchant of London, and was born at Hackney near that city in 1633. He studied at Westminster school, and afterwards in Christchurch college, Oxford. In 1654, he wrote a copy of Latin verses to congratulate Cromwell upon the peace concluded with the Dutch; and the next year a Latin poem, intitled Musica Incantans. In 1660 he was elected public orator of the university; and the next year became domestic chaplain to Edward earl of Clarendon, lord-high-chancellor of England. In 1663 he was installed prebendary of Westminster, admitted to the degree of doctor of divinity, and had a fineure bestowed on him in Wales by his patron the earl of Clarendon; after whose retirement into France in 1667 he became chaplain to the duke of York. In 1670 he was installed canon of Christ-church in Oxford; and in 1676 attended as chaplain to Laurence Hyde, Esq; ambassador extraordinary to the king of Poland. In 1678 he was presented to the rectory of Ilip in Oxfordshire; and in 1680 rebuilt the chancel of that church, as he afterwards did the rectory-house belonging to it. After the revolution he took the oath of allegiance to king William and queen Mary, though he excused himself from accepting a great dignity in the church, vacated by the personal refusal of that oath. His health began to decline

several years before his death, which happened in 1716. He was interred in Westminster Abbey, where a monument is erected to his memory. He published:

1. Animadversions on Dr Sherlock's Vindication of the Holy and Ever Blest Trinity. 2. A Defence of his Animadversions. 3. Sermons, 8 vols 8vo.

And after his decease were published his Opera Posthuma Latina, and his posthumous English works. Dr South was remarkable for his wit, which abounds in all his writings, and particularly in his sermons; but at the same time they equally abound in ill-humour, spleen, and satire. He was remarkable for being a time-server. During the life of Cromwell he was a staunch Presbyterian, and then railed against the Independents; at the Restoration he exerted his pulpit-eloquence against the Presbyterians; and in the reign of Queen Anne, was a warm advocate for Sacheverell.

of the four cardinal points from which the winds blow.