William Harrison

Born in London on April 18, 1534, William Harrison was an English clergyman and author whose name is closely tied to Holinshed’s Chronicles. He is best known for The Description of England, written for that large historical project and published in the 1577 and 1587 editions.

What makes Harrison stand out is the way he wrote about daily life as well as big events. His work looks at customs, food, housing, farming, social classes, religion, and law, giving modern readers a lively picture of England in the Tudor age.

His account also drew on earlier material, especially the work of John Leland, but Harrison shaped it into something readable and memorable in its own right. He died on April 24, 1593, and his writing remains valuable both as literature and as a rich historical record.