Francis Atterbury

About the Author

Francis Atterbury (1662–1732) was an influential English divine, scholar, and political figure whose writings bridged theology, ecclesiastical politics, and the turbulent currents of early 18th-century Britain. Educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, he rose to prominence as a defender of High Church principles, serving as Dean of Carlisle and later Bishop of Rochester. Atterbury's sharp intellect and rhetorical prowess shone in his pamphlets and letters, where he advocated for convocation reforms and critiqued governmental overreach in church affairs. Exiled in 1723 for alleged Jacobite sympathies, he continued his literary output from the Continent, leaving a legacy of erudite prose that influenced Anglican thought and political discourse. His works remain vital for understanding the intersections of faith and state power during the Hanoverian era.