author
W. (William) Derham
1657–1735
A country clergyman with a scientist’s curiosity, he helped show how careful observation could deepen both natural philosophy and faith. He is especially remembered for an early accurate measurement of the speed of sound and for popular works of natural theology.
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About the author
William Derham (26 November 1657 – 5 April 1735) was an English clergyman, natural philosopher, and writer. Educated at Trinity College, Oxford, he served first as vicar of Wargrave and then for many years as rector of Upminster in Essex. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, reflecting the serious place he held in the scientific world of his day.
Derham wrote on both science and religion, and his books helped bring those subjects together for a wide readership. His best-known works include Physico-Theology and Astro-Theology, which argue that the natural world reveals order and design. He also published The Artificial Clockmaker, showing his interest in mechanics and measurement.
He is often remembered today for producing one of the earliest reasonably accurate measurements of the speed of sound. More broadly, he stands out as a good example of the early modern "parson-naturalist"—someone who studied the world closely while serving the church.