William Harris (historian) facts for kids

William Harris, who lived from 1720 to 1770, was an English minister and historian. He wrote a series of important biographies about the Stuart kings of 17th-century Britain. He was known for his detailed and often critical writings.

Life of William Harris

Harris was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He went to a special school in Taunton, Somerset, for students who were not part of the official Church of England.

He started preaching at age 18. In 1741, he became an ordained minister. He married Elizabeth Bovet and became a preacher at a Presbyterian church in Luppitt. He stayed there for the rest of his life.

In 1765, a wealthy friend named Thomas Hollis helped Harris. Hollis helped him get a special degree, a Doctor of Divinity, from the University of Glasgow. Hollis said that Harris's books were well-received. People valued his hard work and honesty. This was true even if they had different beliefs.

Harris became ill and died when he was 49 years old. He passed away before he could write a biography of the last Stuart king, James II of England. He is buried in St Michael's Churchyard in Honiton. His will, a legal document, is kept in The National Archives in London.

William Harris's Works

Harris was a nonconformist. This means he was a Protestant who did not follow the official Church of England. His strong beliefs and political views made him want to write about the Stuart family and Oliver Cromwell.

He first wrote about Hugh Peters in 1751. Peters was a figure from the English Civil War. Then, in 1753, Harris published a book about King James I. This book was his most controversial work. It gave a very negative but detailed picture of James I. It showed him as a bad ruler and a flawed person.

After that, Harris wrote biographies of other important figures. These included Charles I of England (1758), Oliver Cromwell (1761), and Charles II of England (1765).

Harris's biographies were based on lots of historical documents. This meant his criticisms of the Stuart kings were well-supported. His books were popular. People even said they sold for a very high price when bought second-hand. The book about Cromwell gave a nonconformist view. It was probably most popular with other nonconformists at the time.

After Harris died, all five of his works were published together. They appeared in 1814 as a five-volume set.