William Dodd, an English clergyman, born at Bourne, Lincolnshire, in May, 1729, executed in London, June 27, 1777. He studied at the university of Cambridge, where he distinguished himself as a writer both of prose and poetry. He left Cambridge for London in 1750, and the next year married a woman who possessed neither virtue nor fortune, and whose tastes were even more extravagant than his own. He was ordained deacon the same year, and priest in 1753, and was appointed to the vicarage of West Ham, near London, where he obtained great success by his impressive eloquence. His reputation so increased that he was quickly called to London as a preacher, retaining his former benefice. He now abandoned himself to extravagance and excesses. In the hope of being able to meet his increasing expenses, he multiplied his labors as editor and author, and in the course of several years published various original pieces, translations, and new editions of esteemed works. He was intrusted in 1763 with the care of the education of Philip Stanhope, afterward earl of Chesterfield, and obtained an appointment as one of the chaplains of the king.

In 1766 he took the degree of LL. D. at Cambridge. Pursued by his creditors, and ambitious of a still higher position than he had yet obtained, he wrote to the wife of the lord chancellor Apsley an anonymous letter, offering her £'3,000 if by her influence he might be promoted to the rectory of St. George's, Hanover square. This letter, being communicated to the chancellor, laid before the king, and traced to the author, caused his name to be stricken from the list of the royal chaplains. He fled to Geneva, where the young Lord Chesterfield was then residing, who gave him money to satisfy his creditors, and presented to him a living in Buckinghamshire. But Dodd went directly with his money to France, where he spent it recklessly. On his return to England in 1776 he resumed his pastoral functions, and preached with fluency and unction. His last sermon was at the Magdalen chapel, Feb. 2, 1777. Two days after this he forged a bond upon Lord Chesterfield for £4,200, for which he was tried at the Old Bailey and condemned to death.

Though he refunded the money, and was recommended by the jury to the royal clemency, and though numerous noble protectors, many clergymen, and a petition from the city of London bearing 23,000 signatures, prayed for the interference of the crown, he was executed at Tyburn. Of his many writings, the " Reflections on Death " (1703) and the "Thoughts in Prison," a poem in blank verse, written during the progress of his trial, are alone not forgotten.