English theologian and author, born in Wasely, Lincolnshire, on the 14th of February 1683. He was educated at Magdalen College, Cambridge, of which he became a fellow in 1704, and master in 1713; was appointed chaplain to George I. in 1714, and then became vicar of Twickenham, canon of Windsor, and archdeacon of Middlesex. He was chiefly distinguished at a Trinitarian controversialist, especially in opposition to Dr. Whitby, Dr. Samuel Clark, and others of the Arian party. He was an able and zealous defender of the orthodox faith. He builds principally on the historical argument. His writings are entirely controversial. Among them are A Vindication of Christ’s Divinity, being a Defence of Some Queries Relating to Dr. Clark’s Scheme of the Holy Trinity (1719); followed by a second (1723), and third (1725); Vindication; a Critical History of the Athanasian Creed (1724); Christianity Vindicated Against Infidelity (in three parts, 1730–32), and a Review of the Doctrine of the Eucharist (1737). A complete edition of Waterland’s works was published at Oxford (11 vols., 1823–28). He died in London on the 23rd of December 1740. See also Literary Criticism.
