(Dr Thomas), a celebrated English physician, was born at Great Bodwin, in Wiltshire, in 1621, and studied at Christ-church college, Oxford. When that city was garrisoned for the king, he, among other scholars, bore arms for his Majesty, and devoted his leisure hours to the study of physic. The garrison of Oxford at length surrendering to the parliament, he applied himself to the practice of his profession; and soon rendered himself famous by his care and skill. He appropriated a room as an oratory for divine service according to the church of England, whither most of the loyalists in Oxford daily resorted. In 1660, he became Sedleian professor of natural philosophy, and the same year took the degree of doctor of physic. In 1664, he discovered the famous medicinal spring at Aldropp, near Brackley: He was one of the first members of the Royal Society, and soon made his name illustrious by his excellent writings. In 1666, after the fire of London, he removed to Westminster; and his practice became greater than that of any of the physicians his contemporaries. Soon after his settlement in London, his only son Thomas falling into consumption, he sent him to Montpellier in France for the recovery of his health; and it proved successful. His wife also labouring under the same disorder, he offered to leave the town; but she, not suffering him to neglect the means of providing for his family, died in 1670. He died at his house in St Martin's in 1675, and was buried near her in Westminster-abbey. Dr Willis was extremely modest and unambitious, and refused the honour of knighthood. He was remarkably pious: As he rose early in the morning, that he might be present at divine service, which he constantly frequented before he visited his patients, he procured prayers to be read beyond the accustomed times while he lived; and at his death settled a stipend of 20l. per annum to continue them. He was a liberal benefactor to the poor wherever he came, having from his early practice allotted part of his profits to charitable uses. He was exact and regular in all his hours: and though his table was the resort of most of the great men of London, yet he was remarkable... Willughby, able for his plainness, and his being a man of little discourse, complaisance, or society; but he was justly admired for his deep insight into natural and experimental philosophy, anatomy, and chemistry; for his successful practice; and for the elegance and purity of his Latin style. He wrote, 1. A treatise in English, intitled A plain and easy Method for preserving those that are well from the Infection of the Plague, and for curing such as are infected. 2. Several Latin works, which were collected and printed at Amsterdam, in 1682, in 2 vols 4to.