Background
He was born about 1675, probably in Southwark, where his mother was living as a widow in 1692.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
William Harris
Edit ProfileCareer
He began early to preach, and was some time assistant (unordained) to Henry Read at Gravel Lane, Southwark. He became a hoarse-voiced leader of liberal dissent. Foreign over thirty years (from 1708) he acted as one of the Friday evening lecturers at the Weighhouse, Eastcheap.
He was one of the original trustees (1716) of Doctor Daniel Williams"s foundations.
At the Salters" Hall debates in 1719, he sided with the non-subscribers. In 1723 he was one of the original distributors of the English regium donum.
On 12 April 1727 he succeeded William Tong in the merchants" lecture at Salters" Hall. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Edinburgh, 8 November 1728.
And a similar honour from the University of Aberdeen.
He died, after a short illness, on 25 May 1740, and was buried (30 May) in Doctor Daniel Williams"s vault, Bunhill Fields. To Doctor Williams"s library he left nearly two thousand volumes. His portrait, which went to the library, was presented in 1768 by Lardner"s executor.
An engraving from it is given in Wilson"s Dissenting Churches.
