Studies of theology at the University of Cambridge and at the same time interest in experimental physics and mathematics through the work of I. Newton and in botany through J. Ray; 1696 entered Benet College (now Corpus Christi) at Cambridge; B.A. degree; 1703 fellow of Benet College and in the same year M.A.; about 1706 first blood-pressure experiments on dogs; attention of Vigani's chemical lectures at Trinity College and of the experiments by John Waller of St. Benedict's Church; 1709 deacon; left Cambridge to become perpetual curate at Teddington (Middlesex), where most of his scientific work was carried on; from 1712/1713 onward again experiments on animals and later also on plants.
