Richard Willis

Richard Willis (1663–1734) was an English bishop. Life Willis was born in Ribbesford, Worcestershire, where his father was a tanner. He was educated at Bewdley Grammar School and Wadham College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1684 and graduated BA in 1688. He became a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Willis became a curate at Cheshunt and then, in 1692, lecturer at St Clement, Strand, where he acquired a reputation as a preacher. In 1694 he was chaplain to King William III on a journey to the Netherlands. In 1701 Willis was appointed Dean of Lincoln and in 1714 Bishop of Gloucester. In 1721 he became Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of the Order of the Garter before transferring in 1723 to be Bishop of Winchester and Clerk of the Closet. Willis was Lord High Almoner from 1718 to 1723.