John Tillotson, an English prelate, born at Sowerby, near Halifax, in 1630, died in London, Nov. 22, 1694. His father was a strict Calvinist. At an early age- Tillotson became a student at Cambridge, where he was made a fellow in 1651, and remained till 1657, when he became tutor in the family of Prideaux, Cromwell's attorney general. Chillingworth's writings having converted him from Puritanism, at 30 years of age he took orders in the English church, and was successively curate of Cheshunt, rector of Keddington, and preacher at Lincoln's Inn in London. He opposed the proclamation of Charles II. for liberty of conscience, which made him unpopular at court, preached earnestly against popery, and advocated the exclusion of the duke of York. He was the leading member of the commission of 20 divines appointed in 1689 to examine and revise the liturgy. On the accession of William III. he became dean of St. Paul's, and in 1691 archbishop of Canterbury. His marriage with a niece of Cromwell brought him into intimate connection with Wilkins, bishop of Chester, whose posthumous works he edited. His life was written by Dr. Thomas Birch (8vo, London, 1752). He published "The Rule of Faith" (1666) and several volumes of sermons.

For the copyright of his manuscript sermons his widow received 2,500 guineas; and many collective editions afterward appeared in 14 and 12 vols. 8vo. His complete works were published in 1707-'12, in 3 vols. fol. (10 vols. 8vo, 1820). A volume of his sermons was translated into French by Barbeyrac, and six volumes into German by Mosheim.