Beilby, an eminent dignitary of the Church of England, was born at York in 1731, and was educated for holy orders at Christ's College, Cambridge. A Seatonian prize poem On Death, which appeared in 1759, gave him the start on the road to eminence. Attracting the notice of Dr Secker, Archbishop of Canterbury, he was presented to several benefices. The conscientious manner in which he discharged his ministerial duties, and the impressive and eloquent style in which he preached, soon secured for him the patronage of the queen. His prospects of promotion accordingly became certain. In 1769 he was appointed chaplain to George III.; in 1776 he was raised to the see of Chester; and in 1787 he was transferred to the see of London. Occupying this high position, Bishop Porteous used all his power and influence to promote the interests of religion. He established a fund for the relief of the poorer clergy of his diocese. He founded three prizes in Christ's College, Cambridge, as an incitement to the study of Christianity, both theoretical and practical. He also at his death, in 1808, bequeathed his library for the use of his successors in the metropolitan see. The collected works of Bishop Porteous, containing sermons, pamphlets, a Life of Archbishop Secker, and a Summary of Christian Evidences, and accompanied with a memoir of the author by the Rev. R. Hodgson, were published in 6 vols. Svo, London, 1816.