London, 1702, a work showing great research and clear judgment (ed. Cardwell, Oxford, 1854). In the following years other pamphlets in defence of his views on convocation were published by Gibson anonymously. Many of his single sermons were also published. In 1710 Gibson was promoted to the archdeaconry of Surrey. In 1713 he brought out his great work, a magnificent monument of research, entitled ‘Codex Juris Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; or the Statutes, Constitutions, Canons, Rubrics, and Articles of the Church of England digested under their proper heads, with a Commentary Historical and Juridical,’ 2 vols., fol. London, 1713. This was reprinted at Oxford in 1761, and is still the highest authority on church law. An abstract, ‘A System of English Ecclesiastical Law,’ by R. Grey (1730), reached a fourth edition. In 1715 Gibson's patron, Archbishop Tenison, died, and the vacancy at Canterbury was filled by the translation of Dr. Wake from Lincoln. The new primate, who was of a kindred mind with Gibson in his opinions and studies, recommended him strongly as his successor at Lincoln, and in 1716 he was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln. During the four years of his occupancy of this diocese the only works attributed to Gibson are several separate sermons. In 1720, on the death of Bishop Robinson, Gibson was translated to London. Here his literary activity quickly revived, and both by writing and action he resolutely resisted prevailing evils. Masquerades were much patronised by the court, and caused great scandal. Gibson remonstrated privately with the king, and procured a petition signed by several bishops for the abandonment of these entertainments. The establishment of Whitehall sermons by members of the universities appointed by the Bishop of London was due to him. It may have been to make way in London for a bishop of less strict views that Gibson was offered translation to the rich see of Winchester. But this he declined, and by pastoral letters, charges, sermons, and tracts continued to oppose the prevailing laxity. His ‘Family Devotions,’ 1705, 8vo, reached an eighteenth edition in 1750. Some of his pastorals were directed against the deists and freethinkers (1728–9). Of these the second was answered by John Jackson in ‘Four Tracts on Human Reason.’ Another pastoral was directed against the methodists, especially George Whitefield. Gibson collected and edited, in three volumes folio, with prefaces, ‘A Collection of the principal Treatises against Popery in the Papal Controversy, digested under proper heads and tables,’ London, 1738. His ‘Earnest Dissuasive from Intemperance’ appeared in 1743 (15th edition, 1771), and his ‘Pastoral Letter for Reformation of Life’ in 1745. His ‘Serious Advice to Persons who have been Sick,’ his ‘Sacrament of the Lord's Supper explained,’ and his ‘Sinfulness of profaning the Lord's Day’ all reached numerous editions. Gibson long lived on intimate terms with Sir Robert Walpole; and after Archbishop Wake was incapacitated by illness, he was Walpole's chief adviser in ecclesiastical matters. ‘His [Walpole's] esteem for the Bishop of London had been so great that when he was reproached with giving him the authority of a pope he replied: “And a very good pope he is”’ (COXE). Gibson's influence was sufficient to prevent the consecration of Rundle to the see of Gloucester (1734), as he was believed to hold deistical opinions. In 1736, however, Gibson alienated Walpole by his strenuous opposition to the Quakers' Relief Bill. The rejection of this measure in the House of Lords was partly caused by this opposition, which appears to have been ill-judged. The bill provided for the recovery of tithes and church rates from quakers by distraint. Gibson procured votes against it, and Walpole never forgave him. Horace Walpole remarks (Letters, ii. 130) that, in spite of the quarrel, Gibson always spoke of the statesman in the highest terms. At the death of Wake in 1737 Gibson, who had always been regarded as the ‘heir-apparent of Canterbury,’ was passed over, and the primacy was conferred on Potter, bishop of Oxford. At the death of Potter, ten years afterwards, it was offered to Gibson, but declined by him on account of age and infirmities. Contemporary notices represent Gibson as a patron of learned men. When librarian of Lambeth he commenced the catalogue of the library, finished by Dr. Ducarel, and arranged a collection of manuscripts left by Archbishop Tenison. Gibson died at Bath on 6 Sept. 1748. A portrait was engraved by Vertue in 1727. He is said to have married a sister of John Bettesworth, dean of the arches. He was survived by seven of twelve children. The bishop's brother John was provost of Queen's College, Oxford, from 1717 to 1730.
[Some Account of the Right Rev. Dr. E. Gibson, Lond. 1749, attributed to Richard Smalbroke, bishop of Coventry; Coxe's Walpole, ii. (1798); Nichols's Lit. Anecd. of the Eighteenth Century; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, iv. 540; Lathbury's Hist. of Convocation, 1853; Biog. Brit. 1766, suppl.; Hearne's Collections (Oxford Hist. Soc.), i. ii. iii.]
GIBSON, EDWARD (1668–1701), portrait-painter, was nephew of William Gibson (1644–1702) [q. v.], from whom he received instruction in painting. He commenced painting portraits in oil, but subsequently
