WHISTON, (WILT-IAN!), an English divine, philosopher, and
mathematician, of uncommon parts, learning, and extra ordinary
character, was born the 9th of December 1667, at Norton in the
coun ty of Leicester, where his father was rec tor, He was
educated under his father till he was seventeen years of age,
when he was sent to Tamworth school, and two years after
admitted of Clare-hall, Cam bridge, where he pursued his
studies, and particularly the mathematics, with great diligence.
In 1693, he was made Master of Arts, and Fellow of the College,
and soon af ter commenced one of the tutors; but ais ill state
of health soon after obliged On to relinquish this profession.
Having entered into orders, in 1694, he became chaplain to Dr.
More, Bishop of Nor wich ; and while in this station he pub
lished his first work, entitled " A New Theory of the Earth,
Etc." in which he un dertook to prove that the }Mosaic doc trine
of the earth was perfectly agreeable to reason and philosophy ;
which work, having much ingenuity, br