John Wilkins

Son of Walt. Wilk. Citizen and Goldsmith of Oxon, was born at Fawlsley near to Daventry in Northamptonshire, in the house of his Mothers Father Joh. Dod the Decalogist, educated in Grammar Learning under Edw. Silvester a noted Greecian, who taught a private School in Allsaints Parish in Oxon, entred a Student in New Inn in Easter Term an. 1627, aged 13 years; but making no long stay there, he was removed to Magd. Hall under the tuition of Mr. Joh. Tombes, and as a Member thereof took the degrees in Arts. Afterwards entring into holy Orders, he became Chaplain to William Lord Say, and afterwards to Charles Count Palatine of the Rhyne and Prince Elector of the Empire, with whom he continued for some time. At length upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he closed with the Presbyterians, having always before been puritanically affected, and took the Covenant. Afterwards being designed by the Committee for the reformation of this University to be Warden of Wadham Coll, he was actually created Bach. of Div. in the Pembrochian Creation, 12 Apr. 1648, and the next day was put into possession of his Wardenship in the place of a loyal person then ejected. The next year he was created Doct. of Div. and about that time took the Engagement, that is, to be faithful to the Commonwealth of England as it was then established without a King or House of Lords. In 1656 or thereabouts, he took to wife Robina the widow of Pet. French, sometimes Canon of Ch. Ch. and sister to Oliver Cromwell Protector of England: which marriage being contrary to the Statutes of Wadh. Coll. because they prohibit the Warden thereof from marrying while he is Warden, he obtained a dispensation from Oliver to keep it notwithstanding. Afterwards by the favour of Richard Cromwell, who succeeded Oliver in the Protectorship, he had the Headship of Trin. Coll. in Cambridge confer’d upon him (upon the death of Dr. Jo. Arrowsmith) in the beginning of 1659, which is the best preferment in that University. But being ejected thence the next year, about the time of his Majesties Restauration, he became Preacher, as it seems, to the honorable Society of Greys Inn, Minister of S. Lawrence in the Jewry in London, in the place of Dr. Ward, took the Oaths again, which he before had taken, when he took his Academical degrees, and entred into the Ministry, and became a member of the Royal Society, of, and to, which he was one of the Council, and at length a considerable benefactor. Soon after he was made Dean of Rippon (in the room, as I suppose, of Tho. Dod D. D. Rector of Malpass in Cheshire, and sometimes Chapl. in ord. to K. Jam. and K. Ch. 1. who dying 10 of March 1647, was buried in the Church of Malpass) and at length by the endeavours of George Duke of Buckingham then in favour with K. Ch. 2, he obtained upon the death of Dr. George Hall the Bishoprick of Chester, to which he was consecrated in the Chappel at Ely house in Holborn on the 15 of Nov. 1668, by Dr. Cosin Bishop of Durham, Dr. Laney B. of Ely, and Dr. Ward Bishop of Salisbury; at which time Dr. Jo. Tillotson Preacher of Lincolns Inn, delivered an excellent sermon upon that occasion. This Dr. Wilkins was a person endowed with rare gifts, he was a noted Theologist and Preacher, a curious Critick in several matters, an excellent Mathematician and Experimentist, and one as well seen in Mechanecismes and new Philosophy (of which he was a great ((a))((a)) See in The Hist. of the Royal Society, &c. Lond. 1667. qu. Written by Tho. Sprat, part 2. Promote [•] ) as any of his time. He also highly advanced the study and perfecting of Astronomy, both at Oxford whilst he was Warden of Wadh. Coll, and at London whilst he was of the Royal Society; and I cannot say to the contrary that there was any thing deficient in him but a constant mind and setled principles. Dr. Gilb. Burnet tells ((b))((b)) In The life and death of Sir Mat. Hale Knight, &c. Lond. 1682. in a large oct. p. 69. us that this Dr. Wilkins (who was for a Comprehension and a limited indulgence for Dissenters in Religion) was a man of as great a mind, as true a judgment, as eminent virtues, and of as good a soul as any he ever knew, &c. And one or more of the Royal Soc. say that all that knew Bishop Wilkins must needs acknowledge him for his universal insight into all parts of learning, solid judgment, rare prudence and dexterity in the management of worldly affairs and transactions, universal charity, ingenuity, temper and moderation of spirit, to have left behind him but few equals, &c. To pass by the Characters given of him in discourse by the great men of the Church of England, as by Archb. Sheldon, B. Fell, Archb. Dolben, &c. who did malign him for his wavering and unconstant mind in Religion, which I know will be displeasing to many, I shall give you a cat. of his works.

The discovery of a new world: or a discourse tending to prove that ’tis probable there may be another habitable world in the Moon. Lind. 1638. 40. oct. and there again in 1684. which is the fourth edit.

Discourse concerning the possibility of a passage to the world in the Moon—Printed with the Discovery.

Discourse concerning a new Planet: tending to prove that ’tis probable our Earth is one of the Planets, Lond. 1640. in oct. The Authors name is not put to any one of these three things; but they are so well known to be his, that Langrenus in his Map of the Moon (dedicated to the King of Spain) names one of the spots of his Selenographick Map after his name.

Mercury, or the secret Messenger: shewing how a man may with privacy and speed communicate his thoughts to a friend at any distance. Lond. 1641. The publication of which was occasion’d by the writing of a little thing called Nuncius inanimatus, by Fr. Godwin.

Mathematical Magick: or the wonders that may be performed by mechanical Geometry in two books. Lond. 1648. 1680. oct. The last edit. hath the Authors picture before it in his Lawn sleeves.

Ecclesiastes: or, a discourse of the gift of preaching, as it falls under the rules of art. Lond. 1646. 47. 51. 53. 56. and 1675. oct.

Discourse concerning the beauty of Providence, in all the rugged passages of it. Lond. 1649. in tw. Lond. 1677 fifth edit. in oct.

Discourse concerning the gift of Prayer, shewing what it is, wherein it consists, and how far it is attainable by industry, &c. Lond. 1653 and 1674 oct.

Essay towards a real Character and a philosophical Language. Lond. 1668. fol. An account of which is in the Philosophical Transactions, num. 35. The Reader may be pleased now to know that one George Dolgarno a Scot, wrot a book intit. Ars signorum, vulgo character universalis & lingua philosophica. Lond. 1660. 61. oct. This book, before it went to the Press, the Author communicated to Dr. Wilkins, who from thence taking an hint of a greater matter, carried it on, and brought it up to that which you see extant. This Dolgarno was born at Old Aberdene, and bred in the University at New Aberdene, taught a private Grammar School with good success for about thirty years together, in the Parishes of S. Michael and S. Mary Magd. in Oxford, wrot also—Didascalocophus: or, the deaf and dumb mans Tutor. Oxon. in oct. and dying of a fever on the 28 of Aug. 1687, aged 60 or more, was buried in the north body of the Church of S. Mary Magd. in the Suburbs of Oxon. Dr. Wilkins hath also written,

An alphabetical Dictionary: wherein all English words according to their various significations, are either referred to their places in the philosophical Tables, or explained by such words as are in those Tables.—This is printed with the Essay.

Of the principles and duties of natural Religion, two books. Lond. 1675. oct. Published by Jo. Tillotson, D. D.

Sermons preached upon several occasions. Lond. 1682. oct. They are in number 15, and were published by the said Dr. Tillotson. Our learned and critical Author Dr. Wilkins died of the terrible disease of the Stone, in the house of the said Dr. Tillotson, then in Chancerylane in London, on the 19 of Nov. in sixteen hundred seventy and two,1672. and was buried on the 12 of Dec. following under the north wall of the Chancel of the Church of St. Lawrence in the Jewry before mention’d: At which time Dr. Will. Lloyd, then Dean of Bangor, preached his funeral Sermon; which having been since twice printed, you may see his full character therein, as also in the Epist. dedic. of Dr. Seth Ward made to Dr. Jonath. Goddard, put before the Inquisitio in Bullialdi Astronomiae fundamenta.