EDMUND, D.D., author of the Codex Juris Ecclesiasticus Anglicani, was born at Bampton in Westmoreland in 1669. His parents were persons of humble fortune, but sensible enough to give their son the best education within their reach. After distinguishing himself at the local schools, young Gibson was sent to Oxford, where he made himself known by publishing at the early age of twenty-two a Latin translation of the Saxon Chronicle, with notes, indexes, &c. This work is held in high esteem among historians, as it throws light on many points of early English history on which the Latin chronicles are silent. Gibson's version of the work was welcomed by the antiquarians of England, many of whom volunteered their aid for the edition of Camden's Britannia, on which it soon became known that he was engaged. This latter work appeared in 1695, and was republished in 1722. Its editor's next production was also antiquarian in its nature, being an edition of some historical remains left by Sir Henry Spelman, and published by Gibson under the title of Reliquiae Spelmanianae. In virtue of these and other works Gibson attracted the notice of Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury, who made him his private chaplain, and afterwards rector of Lambeth and archdeacon of Surrey. In the discussions which subsequently arose relative to the convocation of the clergy, Gibson took a very active part, and warmly upheld in a series of pamphlets the rights of the archbishop as president of that assembly. This controversy suggested to him the idea of those researches which resulted in his Codex Juris Ecclesiasticus Anglicani, a work which discusses more learnedly and comprehensively than any other the legal rights and duties of the English clergy, and the constitution, canons, and articles of the English Church. In 1715 Gibson was presented to the see of Lincoln, whence he was translated five years after to that of London. Here he exercised an immense influence in the affairs of the church, over whose integrity he watched with the most jealous care. Sir Robert Walpole used to consult him on all church matters, and allowed his power to become so great that Sir Robert was once reproached for tolerating a pope in England. "And a very good pope he is," was the minister's reply. Gibson's overscrupulous regard for the clerical prerogative finally lost him Walpole's favour; and his fearless denunciation of the licentious masquerades, then highly popular at court, brought him into disgrace with the king.

In his church politics Gibson was a thorough conservative, yet he respected the various forms of dissent, and checked all attempts to prevent them from worshipping in the manner and on the principles which they preferred. In practical life his generosity and charity are well attested by numerous and striking examples. He died in 1748, having reached his eightieth year. The only work of Gibson which need be particularized here, in addition to those already mentioned, is his Pastoral Letters, intended as a reply to Collins and other assailants of Christianity.