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William Wollaston (1659-1724)

William Wollaston (1659-1724), the son of a woollen draper, was born in Coton Clanford, Staffordshire, on March 26 1659. Graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1681, he became an assistant master at the Birmingham grammar school. As was the usual practice at that time, he took holy orders. In 1688 William Wollaston of Shenton left him a fortune. He moved to London, where he became engaged to be married to Alice Cobourne the daughter of a wealthy brewer in Stratford-le-Bow. She contracted smallpox and died on the day fixed for the wedding. William erected a memorial, lamenting the loss of half his soul, in Stratford church.

Six months after this tragic loss, he married 19-year-old Charlotte Charlton, a young lady of means. With his sound financial situation he was able to devote himself to learning and philosophy. He embodied his views in a book, Religion of Nature Delineated(1st ed. 1722; 2nd ed. 1724). Religion of Nature Delineated, was one of the most popular philosophical books of its day, running into several editions. A life of the author was included in the 1750 (8th) edition. The book was designed to be an answer to two questions: Is there such a thing as natural religion? and, If there is, what is it? He started with the assumption that religion and morality are identical, and labours to show that religion is "the pursuit of happiness by the practice of truth and reason." He claimed originality for his theory that the moral evil is the practical denial of a true proposition and moral good the affirmation of it. William also produced a pamphlet, On the Design of the Book of Ecclesiastes, or the Unreasonableness of Men's Restless Contention for the Present Enjoyments, represented in an English Poem (London, 1691).

He died on 20th October 1724 in his home in Charterhouse Square. Although he owned Shenton Hall, it is said that after his marriage he never spent one whole night away from his Charterhouse Square home.

Bibliography:
Encyclopędia Britannica 1911 & 2000