William Law was an English cleric and theological writer. Law was born in Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire and entered Emmanuel College at Cambridge as a sizar. Law was ordained in 1711 and taught at Cambridge for many years. In 1727 Law lived with Edward Gibbon at Putney and served as the spiritual leader of his entire family. During his ten year stay at the Gibbon's residence, Law also served as the religious guide for John and Charles Wesley as well as the poet John Byrom. In the later years of Law's life he grew to admire Jacob Boehme and the concept of mysticism which would appear in Law's works.
