William Dodd (priest)

William Dodd
William Dodd
William Dodd at the place of execution at Tyburn.
Born29 May 1729 (1729-05-29)
Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Died27 June 1777(1777-06-27) (aged 48)
Tyburn, London, England
Occupation(s)British writer and clergyman, hanged for forgery
Portrait of William Dodd
Dr. Dodd in The Chronicles of Newgate, ed. Arthur Griffiths

William Dodd (29 May 1729 – 27 June 1777) was an English Anglican clergyman and a man of letters.[1] He lived extravagantly, and was nicknamed the "Macaroni Parson". He dabbled in forgery in an effort to clear his debts, and was caught and convicted. Despite a public campaign for a Royal pardon, in which he received the assistance of Samuel Johnson, he was hanged at Tyburn for forgery.

  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Dodd, William" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 367–368.