WILLIAM BORLASE, a learned English antiquary, was born at Pendeen, in the parish of St. Just, Cornwall, February 2, 1695–6. The family of that name, from which he was descended, had been settled at that place from whence they derived it (Borlase,) from the time of King William Rufus. Our author was the second son of John Borlase, Esq. of Pendeen, in the parish before mentioned, by Lydea, the youngest daughter of Christopher Harris, Esq. of Hayne, in the county of Devon, and was early put to school at Penzance, from which he was removed in 1709, to that of the Rev. Mr. Bedford, then a learned schoolmaster at Plymouth. Having completed his grammatical education, he was entered of Exeter College, Oxford, in March, 1712–3, where, on the first of June, 1719, he took the degree of Master of Arts. In the same year, Mr. Borlase was admitted to deacons’ orders, and ordained priest in 1720. On the 22nd of April, 1722, he was instituted by Dr. Watson, Bishop of Exeter, to the rectory of Ludgvan, in Cornwall, to which he had been presented by Charles, Duke of Bolton. On the 28th of July, 1724, he was married in the church of Illugan, by his elder brother, Dr. Borlase of Castlehorneck, to Anne, eldest surviving daughter and coheir of William Smith, M. A. rector of the parishes of Camborn and Illugan. In 1732, the Lord Chancellor King, by the recommendation of Sir William Morrice, Bart. presented Mr. Borlase to the vicarage of St. Just, his native parish, and where his father had a considerable property. This vicarage and the rectory of Ludgvan were the only preferments he ever received.