Horsley, Samuel

Horsley, Samuel (hôrz`lē), 1733–1806, English prelate, noted as a scientist. He became bishop of St. David's in 1788, of Rochester in 1793, and of St. Asaph in 1802. Science was the field in which he first became widely known. In 1767 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, of which he was for many years a secretary. Horsley completed an edition of Sir Isaac Newton's works in 1785, but he is particularly remembered for the controversy (1783–90) with Joseph Priestly concerning the doctrine of Christ's incarnation, in which Horsley defended the orthodox view. His books include mathematical and theological works.