Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/291

 was published separately after his death by his relative, Dr. Ashby Smith, in 1814. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1791, and a fellow of the Royal Society on 23 Feb. 1809.

He long resided in Bloomsbury Square, but when, in 1810, symptoms of pulmonary consumption and dropsy developed, he went to Madeira. He died there on 12 April 1812, aged 54.

Besides the works mentioned, Willan wrote: 1. ‘The History of the Ministry of Jesus Christ, combined from the Narrations of the Four Evangelists, by R.W.,’ 1782, 8vo. 2. ‘On Vaccine Inoculation,’ with coloured plates, London, 1806, 4to. His ‘Miscellaneous Works, comprising an Inquiry into the Antiquity of Smallpox, Measles, and Scarlet Fever; Reports on the Diseases of London,’ and detached papers on medical subjects, were edited by Dr. Ashby Smith, London, 1812, 8vo.

[Munk's Coll. of Phys.; Cat. Brit. Mus. Library; Gent. Mag. 1812, i. 593; Records of the Royal Society.]  WILLEHAD or WILHEAD (d. 789), bishop of Bremen and English missionary in Germany, was a Northumbrian, probably educated at York, and a friend of Alcuin [q. v.], as the letters of the latter prove (, Monumenta Germaniæ Historica, Script. ii. p. 379). He laboured for some time at Dokkum in Friesland, where St. Boniface was martyred (Vita S. Willehadi Episcopi Bremensis ad an. 789, auct. Anschario Bremensi Archiepiscopo, ap., loc. cit. p. 380), but had to flee for his life. Summoned to the court of Charles the Great, he was by that monarch despatched to a district on the borders of Friesland and Saxony, about Bremen, called Wigmodia. Here he was very successful, and in his second year persuaded the Saxons to receive Christianity (ib. p. 381). During the revolt of Widukind, however, a large part of Saxony fell away from Christianity, and Willehad was again compelled to flee from a persecution in which many of his followers perished (ib. pp. 381–2). He visited Rome, and spent some years in reading and writing at Epternach and elsewhere, but ultimately returned to his work in Wigmodia. After the submission of Widukind Saxony again received Christianity, and Willehad was consecrated bishop of the diocese (ib. p. 383), apparently in 787. He made Bremen the seat of the bishopric, and built there St. Peter's church, which was dedicated on 1 Nov. 789 (ib. see note). About a week later, while visiting his diocese, Willehad fell ill at a little place below Vegesack, near Bremen, and died there (ib. p. 384, see note). Willehad is thought to have written some treatises, including a commentary on the epistles of St. Paul, which are believed to be extant, the latter in print (, Biogr. Brit. Lit. i. 349).

[The best edition of Willehad's life by Anschar, bishop of Bremen, is that of Pertz above quoted; for other editions see Hardy's Descript. Cat. I. ii. 493.]  WILLEMENT, THOMAS (1786–1871), heraldic writer and artist in stained glass, born in 1786, obtained the appointment of heraldic artist to George IV, and on 17 May 1832 was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Subsequently he was styled artist in stained glass to Queen Victoria, and for many years he carried on business at 25 Green Street, Grosvenor Square. To him modern glass-painters are, to a considerable extent, indebted for the revival of their art. In 1845 he purchased the estates at Davington, near Faversham, Kent, containing the freehold land, church, and donative. He died at Davington Priory on 10 March 1871. His wife Katharine, daughter of Thomas Griffith, died 4 Aug. 1852, aged 56, and was buried in Davington church (Archæol. Cantiana, xxii. 285).

His works are: 1. ‘Regal Heraldry: the Armorial Insignia of the Kings and Queens of England, from coeval authorities,’ London, 1821, 4to (cf. ib. xxii. 190, 194, xxiii. 124). 2. ‘Heraldic Notices of Canterbury Cathedral; with Genealogical and Topographical Notes. To which is added a chronological list of the Archbishops of Canterbury, with the Blazon of their respective Arms,’ London, 1827, 4to. 3. ‘Fac Simile of a contemporary Roll, with the Names and the Arms of the Sovereign, and of the Spiritual and Temporal Peers who sat in the Parliament held at Westminster A.D. 1515,’ London, 1829. Only fifty-one copies printed. Index issued separately. 4. ‘A Roll of Arms of the Reign of Richard the Second,’ London, 1834, 4to. Twenty-five copies printed. 5. ‘A Concise Account of the principal Works in Stained Glass that have been executed by Thomas Willement,’ privately printed, London, 1840, 4to. 6. ‘An Account of the Restorations of the Collegiate Chapel of St. George, Windsor. With some Particulars of the Heraldic Ornaments of that Edifice,’ London, 1844, 4to. 7. ‘Historical Sketch of the Parish of Davington, in the county of Kent, and of the Priory there,’ with plates, London, 1862, 4to (cf. ib. xxii. 190 sqq.)