William Wotton

William Wotton (August 13, 1666 - February 13, 1727), English scholar, son of the Rev. Henry Wotton, was born in his father's parish of Wrentham, Suffolk.

He was not yet ten years old when he was sent to Catherine Hall, Cambridge, having by this time a good knowledge of Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He obtained a fellowship at St John's College, and was elected an F.R.S in 1687.

Wotton is chiefly remembered for his share in the controversy about the respective merits of ancient and modern learning. In his Reflections upon Ancient and Modern Learning (1694, and again 1697) he took the part of the moderns, although in a fair and judicial spirit, and was attacked by Swift in the The Battle of the Books and A Tale of a Tub. During some of his later years Wotton resided in Wales and gave himself to the study of Celtic, making a translation of the laws of Hywel Dda, which was published after his death (1730). Having taken holy orders, he was a prebend of Salisbury from 1705 until his death at Buxted, Essex, on the 13th of February 1727.

Wotton wrote a History of Rome (1701) and Miscellaneous Discoveries relating to the Traditions and Usages of the Scribes and Pharisees (1718).

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.