whichcote was born at whichcote hall in stoke upon tern, shropshire. he entered emmanuel college, cambridge in 1628, and became a fellow in 1633. in 1637, he was ordained, a deacon and priest at the same time. in 1643, he married and took up priestly duties in a cambridge-dispensed parish in north cadbury, somerset. in 1644, he became 19th provost of king's college due to parliamentary control of the universities. however, he was the only new head of house who did not subscribe to the national covenant. in 1650, during the interregnum, he was vice-chancellor of the university of cambridge, and advised oliver cromwell on the subject of toleration of the jews. after the restoration he was removed from his position at king's college, but reinstated when he accepted the act of uniformity in 1662.