Gilbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born on the 19th of July 1598, at Stanton, in Staffordshire. He was admitted into Trinity College, Oxford, in 1613, and obtained his degree of M.A. in May 28th, 1620. He was chosen fellow of All Souls' College, in 1622, and taking holy orders, he became domestic chaplain to Lord Coventry. Sheldon rose through successive stages of preferment, till at last he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. He died, enormously rich, on the 9th of November 1677. Besides building the theatre which still bears his name at Oxford, in 1699, he is said to have expended very large sums on charitable purposes.