Dodd, William, 1729-1777

William Dodd (1729-1777) attended the University of Cambridge, and was ordained as a minister in 1752. He published a wide variety of works from 1747 onward, including poetry, a novel, theological writings, and his most successful work, The Beauties of Shakespeare (1752). In 1767, he founded Pimlico Chapel in London behind Buckingham House, in an effort to attract royal patronage. Dodd grew increasingly desperate for money to pay debts. On 1777 Feb. 1, he forged the name of a former pupil on a bond in an effort to obtain £4200, for which he was sentenced to death on May 16. Despite a vigorous public sympathy campaign, led in part by author Samuel Johnson, clemency was not granted and Dodd was executed on June 27.

The Rev. William Dodd, a London-area clergyman, found himself desperate for money to pay debts. On 1777 Feb. 1, he forged the name of a former pupil on a bond in an effort to obtain £4200. He was arrested a week later, convicted on Feb. 22, and sentenced to death on May 16. Samuel Johnson became interested in the case through the efforts of his friend and neighbor, printer Edmund Allen. Over the next several weeks, Johnson wrote several letters, speeches and petitions on Dodd's behalf. Although one of Johnson's petitions gathered twenty-three thousand signatures, and his words helped generate widespread public sympathy for Dodd's case, clemency was not granted. Dodd was executed on June 27.

The Rev. William Dodd (1729-1777), a London-area clergyman, found himself desperate for money to pay debts. On 1777 Feb. 1, he forged the name of a former pupil on a bond in an effort to obtain £4200. He was arrested a week later, convicted on Feb. 22, and sentenced to death on May 16. Author Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) became interested in the case through the efforts of his friend and neighbor, printer Edmund Allen (1726-1784). Over the next several weeks, Johnson wrote several letters, speeches and petitions on Dodd's behalf. Although one of Johnson's petitions gathered twenty-three thousand signatures, and his words had helped generate widespread public sympathy for Dodd's case, clemency was not granted. Dodd was executed on June 27.

William Dodd attended the University of Cambridge, and was ordained as a minister in 1752. He published a wide variety of works from 1747 onward, including poetry, a novel, theological writings, and his most successful work, The Beauties of Shakespeare (1752). In 1767, he founded Pimlico Chapel in London behind Buckingham House, in an effort to attract royal patronage. Dodd grew increasingly desperate for money to pay debts. On 1777 Feb. 1, he forged the name of a former pupil on a bond in an effort to obtain £4200, for which he was sentenced to death. He was executed on June 27.

Bedfordshire clergyman.

Son of a clergyman, William Dodd was born in 1729 and attended school at Oxford. He married Mary Perkins in 1751. Throughout his adult life he lived above his means and accumulated numerous debts. Finally, pressed by creditors, in 1777 he forged a bond for 4200 pounds from his pupil, Lord Chesterfield. He was quickly caught, tried and executed on June 27, 1777.