Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Derham, William (1702-1757)
DERHAM, WILLIAM, D.D. (1702–1757), president of St. John's College, Oxford, son of William Derham [q. v.], was born at Upminster in 1702, entered Merchant Taylors' School in 1714, proceeded to St. John's College, Oxford, in 1721, was elected fellow of the college in 1724, graduated B.A. in 1725, and M.A. in 1729, was junior proctor in 1736, and elected Whyte's Professor of Moral Philosophy on 7 Feb. 1737, graduated B.D. the same year, took holy orders and the degree of D.D. in 1742, and was elected president of St. John's in 1748. His term of office was uneventful. He occupied his leisure time in making a neat transcript of the earlier records belonging to the college, which seems to indicate a certain taste for antiquarian research. He died on 17 July 1757, and was buried in the college chapel. His epitaph ascribes to him most of the virtues.
[Robinson's Merchant Taylors' Reg. ii. 40; Wood's Hist. and Ant. Oxford (Gutch), ii. pt. ii. 876; iv. 546, 558; Le Neve's Fasti Eccl. Angl.; Grad. Oxon.; information from the Rev. R. Ewing, M.A., tutor of St. John's Coll., Oxford.]