Adams, William (2), D.D.,
an English divine, was born at Shrewsbury in 1707, and entered Pembroke College, Oxford, at the age of thirteen years. He took the degree of A.M., April 18, 1727, and afterwards obtained a fellowship. In 1732 he was presented to the curacy (or vicarage) of St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, upon which Occasion he quitted the college. He took his degrees of B.D. and D.D. at Oxford in 1756, and in July 26, 1775, became Master of Pembroke; in consequence obtaining a prebend of Gloucester attached to that office. The year before he went last to Oxford, Mrs. Elizabeth Cressett presented him with the rectory of Cound, in. Shopshire, which he retained till his death. When he became Master of Pembroke, he resigned the living of St. Chad, and was soon after made archdeacon of Llandaff. He died at his prebendal home at Gloucester, Jan. 13, 1789. He published three occasional Sermons (1741,1742, 1749), but his principal work was an Essay on Hume's Essay on Miracles (1752, 8vo). Two volumes of Sermons, etc., were printed (Shrewsbury, 1777, 1790). His sermon on True and False Doctrine caused a dispute, although neither he nor Rev. William Romaine, a sermon of whose he criticised, took any part in the. controversy.' See Gentleman's Mag. 1789; Chalmers, Biog. Diet. s.v.; Darling, Cyclop. Bibliog. s.v.