Dodd, William (1729-1777)

English scholar, cleric and forger. Of his many books, a volume of selections called The Beauties of Shakespeare 1752 was reprinted many times. In 1763 he was appointed chaplain to the king. He was hanged for obtaining money by forgery.

Educated at Cambridge and ordained 1751, Dodd soon became a popular preacher, attracting large congregations to the Magdalen House, where he was chaplain after its inauguration 1758. He lived beyond his means and in 1777 forged a bond for £4,200 in the name of Lord Chesterfield. The forgery was discovered and Dodd was tried and condemned to death. Samuel Johnson and others campaigned unsuccessfully to save him from execution.