William Whitaker (theologian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids  D.D.
Church	Church of England
Personal details
Born	1548 Holme, Lancashire
Died	4 December 1595 Cambridge
Nationality	English
Denomination	Calvinist Anglican
Parents	Thomas and Elizabeth Whitaker
Children	Alexander Whitaker

William Whitaker (born 1548, died 4 December 1595) was an important English church leader, teacher, and thinker. He was a master at St. John's College, Cambridge, and a leading religious scholar at the university. His uncle was Alexander Nowell, who was a very important church leader at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Early Life and School

William Whitaker was born in 1548 in a place called Holme, near Burnley, in Lancashire, England. He was the third son of Thomas and Elizabeth Whitaker.

He went to a local school first. Then, his uncle, Alexander Nowell, sent him to St Paul's School in London. His uncle was also a Protestant churchman who had to flee England during a difficult time for Protestants.

After St. Paul's, William went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1564. He studied hard and earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1568. He then became a scholar and later a "fellow" at his college. A fellow is like a senior student or teacher who gets support from the college. He earned his master's degree (M.A.) in 1571. His uncle helped him pay for his studies. William showed his thanks by translating some important religious books from English and Latin into Greek.

Becoming a Professor and Leader

William Whitaker was very good at debating and studying. He became known for his deep knowledge of the Bible and religious writings. John Whitgift, who was the head of Trinity College at the time, noticed William's talent.

In 1578, William became a canon (a type of priest) at Norwich Cathedral. He also earned his Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) degree. In 1580, Queen Elizabeth I chose him to be the Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University. This was a very important teaching job. He also became the head of St. Paul's in London. From this point, he became a strong defender of the Church of England's Protestant beliefs.

In 1582, he took part in a big debate. His main argument was that the Roman Pope was the "Antichrist" mentioned in the Bible. This was a common belief among many Protestants at the time. His lectures, which were written down by a student, often argued against the ideas of Roman Catholic thinkers like Robert Bellarmine. He also criticized a new Catholic translation of the New Testament called the Douay–Rheims Bible.

One of his most famous books was Disputations on Holy Scripture. In this book, he strongly argued that the Bible alone is the most important guide for faith and life for Protestants. This was different from the Roman Catholic view, which also included traditions and other teachings from the Church. Whitaker's book explained why Protestants believed the Bible was clear and complete on its own.

Leading St. John's College

In 1586, William Whitaker became the Master of St. John's College, Cambridge. This was a big job, like being the principal of a large school. Some people at the college were worried he might be too much of a "Puritan" (a group that wanted to make the Church of England even more Protestant).

However, he was a very good leader. The college grew in size and reputation under him. He was fair to everyone and helped the college become stronger. Even those who disagreed with his religious views eventually respected him.

In 1587, he earned his Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree. He continued to write books defending Protestant ideas. He also had some disagreements with other church leaders, especially about certain Calvinist beliefs. He died on 4 December 1595, after returning from a meeting where he felt tired and disappointed.

William Whitaker was highly respected by people of his time. Many famous scholars admired his intelligence and knowledge.

Family Life

William Whitaker was married twice. His first wife was named Culverwell. His second wife was the widow of Dudley Fenner. He had eight children. One of his sons, Alexander Whitaker, later became known as the "Apostle of Virginia" because he traveled to America and helped establish the first English colony there. Alexander is also famous for baptizing Pocahontas, a Native American princess. Another son, Jabez, also went to America and helped build a guest house for new families in Virginia.

Images for kids

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  A portrait of William Whitaker.