Edward Willes (bishop)

Edward Willes (6 March 1693 – 24 November 1773) was an

Bishop of St David's and later Bishop of Bath and Wells

and one of the most prominent English cryptanalysts of his time.

Life

He was born in

Mayor of Oxford. They belonged to a junior branch of the long-established Willes family of Newbold Comyn; Sir John Willes, the long-serving Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, was his brother. He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford and graduated with a BA degree in 1712. While there he learned cryptography from William Blencowe.^[1]

In 1716 he became a Decipherer for

Barton in the Clay, Bedfordshire, which he held between 1718 and 1730.^[1]

He subsequently deciphered the correspondence between

Canon of Westminster Abbey. He was Dean of Lincoln 1730–1743.^[1]

In 1743 he became bishop of St. Davids and in 1744 he became Bishop of Bath and Wells.[1] During his episcopate he undertook some repairs to the Bishop's Palace in Wells.

By his wife Jane, Willes had five sons and four daughters. He was a popular and respected man: one of his sons was reportedly told by the Earl of Chesterfield that he should try to imitate his father in everything.

Willes died in London in 1773, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

References

David Kahn, The Codebreakers, 1968.

Notes

^
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/61903. (Subscription or UK public library membership
required.)

Church of England titles
Preceded by Edward Gee	Dean of Lincoln 1730–1743	Succeeded by Thomas Cheney
Preceded by Nicholas Clagett	Bishop of St David's 1743	Succeeded by Richard Trevor
Preceded by John Wynne	Bishop of Bath and Wells 1743–1773	Succeeded by Charles Moss

[ODNB-1] 
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/61903. (Subscription or UK public library membership
required.)

[1]

v t e Deans of Lincoln
High Medieval	Ranulph Simon Bloet Philip of Harcourt Adelelm Geoffrey Richard FitzNeal Hamo Roger de Rolleston William de Thornaco Roger Weseham Henry of Lexington Richard of Gravesend Robert de Mariscis William of Lexington Richard de Mepham John de Maidenstan Oliver Sutton Nicholas de Hegham Philip Willoughby
Late Medieval	Joceline Kirmington Raymond de Got Roger Martival Henry Mansfield Antony Bek William Bateman John de Ufford Thomas Bradwardine Simon Briselee John Stretley Richard Ravenser John Sheppey John Mackworth Robert Flemming George Fitzhugh Geoffrey Simeon Thomas Wolsey John Constable George Heneage John Taylor
Early modern	Matthew Parker Francis Mallet John Whitgift William Wickham Ralph Griffin John Rainolds William Cole Laurence Stanton Roger Parker Anthony Topham Michael Honywood Daniel Brevint Samuel Fuller Abraham Campion Richard Willis Robert Cannon Edward Gee Edward Willes Thomas Cheney William George John Green James Yorke Robert Richardson Richard Cust Sir Richard Kaye
Late modern	George Gordon John Ward Thomas Garnier Francis Jeune James Jeremie Joseph Blakesley William Butler Edward Wickham Thomas Fry Robert Mitchell Colin Dunlop Oliver Fiennes Brandon Jackson Alec Knight Philip Buckler John Patrick (Acting) Christine Wilson

v t e Bishops of St Davids
Early medieval	Saint David Cynog Saint Teilo Ceneu Morfael Haernynin Elwaed Gurnuru Llunwerth I Gwrgwst Gwrgan Clydog Einion Elfodd Ethelman Elaunc Maelsgwyd Sadyrnfyw Cadell Sulhaithnay Nobis Idwal Asser Arthwael Samson Ruelin Rhydderch Elwyn Morfyw Llunwerth II Eneuris Sulhidyr Ivor Morgeneu
High medieval	Nathan Ieuan Arwystl Erbin Trahaearn Joseph Bleiddud Sulien Abraham Sulien Rhygyfarch Wilfrid Daniel Bernard David FitzGerald Peter de Leia Gerald of Wales Geoffrey de Henlaw Iorwerth Anselm le Gras Thomas Wallensis Richard Carew Thomas Bek
Late medieval	David Martyn Henry Gower John of Thoresby Reginald Brian Thomas Fastolf Adam Houghton Richard Mitford John Gilbert Guy Mone Henry Chichele John Catterick Stephen Patrington Benedict Nichols Thomas Rodborne William Lyndwood John Langton John De la Bere Robert Tully Richard Martyn Thomas Langton Hugh Pavy John Morgan
Early modern	Robert Sherborne Edward Vaughan Richard Rawlins William Barlow Robert Ferrar Henry Morgan Thomas Young Richard Davies Marmaduke Middleton Anthony Rudd Richard Milbourne William Laud Theophilus Feild Roger Maynwaring Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) William Lucy William Thomas Laurence Womock John Lloyd Thomas Watson George Bull Philip Bisse Adam Ottley Richard Smalbroke Elias Sydall Nicholas Clagett Edward Willes Richard Trevor Anthony Ellys Samuel Squire Robert Lowth Charles Moss James Yorke John Warren Edward Smallwell Samuel Horsley William Stuart Lord George Murray Thomas Burgess John Jenkinson Connop Thirlwall Basil Jones John Owen
Church in Wales	John Owen David Prosser (Archbishop of Wales) William Havard John Richards Eric Roberts George Noakes (Archbishop of Wales) Ivor Rees Huw Jones Carl Cooper Wyn Evans Joanna Penberthy Dorrien Davies

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