Clagett, William (1646-09-24 - 1689-03-22)

Likely William Clagett (ODNB Article 5426) due to his association with Gray's Inn (where many of the associated sermons were preached). William Clagett was born 24 September 1646 to Jane and Nicholas Clagett, preacher at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Admitted pensioner of Emmanuel College, 1659; BA, 1663; MA, 1667; DD, 1683. Elected preacher at St Mary's in 1672 (from where his father was ejected for nonconformity ten years earlier). Remained there until 1680. Chaplain-in-ordinary to the king in 1677. Appointed preacher at Gray's Inn in February 1679. Rector of Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, 1683-8. Became lecturer at St Michael Bassishaw, London, ca. 1686. Despite his puritan background, he became a prominent defender of the Church of England. He penned numerous polemical works against dissenters and Catholics, and debated priest Peter Gooden at Gray's Inn in 1686, an account of which was published posthumously in 1689 as an appendix to a volume of his sermons entitled in 1689 as Seventeen Sermons Preach'd upon Several Occasions, Never before Printed. Died of smallpox and was buried at St Michael Bassishaw on 22 March 1688. He was followed by his wife Thomasina who was buried there 11 April 1688. They left behind three orphaned children.