John Wilkins ( 1614 - 1672 )

Birth: Fawsley or Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England, Europe (1614) Death: Chancery Lane, London, England, Europe (19 November 1672) Burial: St Lawrence Jewry, London, England, Europe (12 December 1672) Occupation: Clergyman, Church of England Research Field: Mathematics Education: Edward Sylvester's school at Oxford; New Inn Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1627), but moved to Magdalen Hall, BA (1631), MA (1634), BD (1648), DD (1649) Career: Tutor at Oxford; Vicar of Fawsley (2 June 1637); Ordained as priest at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (18 February 1638); Published 'The discovery of a new world, or, A discourse tending to prive that ('tis probable) there may be another habitable world in the moon' (1638) and 'Discourses concerning a new planet; tending to prove, that ('tis probable) our earth is one of the planets' (1640); Private chaplain, successively, to William Fiennes (1st Viscount Saye and Sele), George (8th Lord Berkeley), and Charles Louis, Prince Elector Palatine (1644); Appointed preacher to Gray's Inn (1645); Published 'Mercury, or, The secret and swift messenger: shewing how a man may with privacy and speed communicate his thoughts to a friend at any distance' (1641); Published first religious work 'Ecclesiastes: A Discourse Concerning the Gift of Preaching' (1646); Published 'Mathematical Magick, or, The Wonders that may be Performed by Mechanical Geometry' (1648); Warden, Wadham College, Oxford (1648-1659); Published 'A Discourse Concerning the Beauty of Providence' (1649); 'A discourse concerning the gift of prayer: shewing what it is, wherein it consists and how far it is attainable by industry' (1651); Advisor to Richard Cromwell (1657); Master of Trinity College, Cambridge (1659); Dean of Ripon Cathedral (1660); Canon of York (1660-1668); Preacher of Gray's Inn (1661); Rector of Cranford, Middlesex (1661); Vicar of St Lawrence Jewry, London (1662-1668); Rector of Polebrooke, Northamptonshire (1666-1667); Canon and Precentor of Exeter (1667-1668); Canon of St Paul's (1668); Dean of Ripon (1668); Rector of Wigan, Lancashire (1668-1672); Bishop of Chester (1668-1672); published 'An Essay towards a Real Character and a Philosophical Language' (London 1668) Membership: Founder Fellow Election Date: 28/11/1660 Council: Secretary 1663-1668 Supervision of Thomas Sprat's 'History of the Royal Society' (1667) Committee appointments include: Anatomical Committee (30 March 1664) Auditors of the Treasurers' accounts (c. November 1667).