Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hallifax, William
HALLIFAX, WILLIAM (1655?–1722), divine, born at Springthorpe, Lincolnshire, about 1655, was the son of the Rev. John Hallifax. On 20 Feb. 1670 he entered Brasenose College, Oxford, as a servitor, but was admitted a scholar of Corpus Christi College in April 1674, and a fellow in December 1682. He graduated B.A. in 1675, M.A. in 1678, and B.D. in 1687. In 1685 he published from the French a translation of Millet de Chales's ‘Euclide.’ On 18 Jan. 1687–8 he was elected chaplain to the Levant Company at Aleppo, and held the appointment until 27 Nov. 1695. Having at Michaelmas 1691 paid a visit to Palmyra in Syria, he sent an account to Professor Edward Bernard, which, with a sketch of the ruins taken by two of his travelling companions, was inserted in the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ for 1695 (xix. 83–110). He took the degree of D.D. by diploma in 1695, and on 17 Aug. 1699 he was presented by Thomas Foley of Witley Court to the richly endowed rectory of Old Swinford, Worcestershire, and held it with the rectory of Salwarpe in the same county, to which he was instituted on 18 July 1713 (Nash, Worcestershire, ii. 212, 214, 339). He died apparently in the beginning of 1722, and desired to be buried in the chancel of Salwarpe Church. His will, dated 2 Nov. 1721, was proved on 15 Feb. 1722 (P. C. C. 28, Marlborough). By his wife Mary, sister of the Rev. George Martin, he probably left no issue. He bequeathed to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, his oriental books and manuscripts, a silver-gilt basin bought at Aleppo, and a collection of coins and medals. He wrote also ‘A Sermon … preach'd Jan. 30, 1701. With a Vindication of its Author from aspersions cast upon him in a late libel, entitled a Letter to a Clergyman in the City, concerning the Instructions lately given to the Proctors of the Clergy for the Diocese of Worcester,’ 1702.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 620; J. B. Pearson's Chaplains to Levant Co.]