William Paley (1743–1805), an English theologian and moral philosopher, authored writings in support of theism and Christianity that were very popular in the nineteenth century. He is regarded as one of the forefathers of the utilitarian tradition. In July 1743, William Paley was born in Peterborough. His father was a clergyman who later became bishop of Rochester. The younger Paley showed an early interest in literature and religion. At age 13, he wrote a book entitled Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy that was published in London in 1775. In 1766, at age twenty-one, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. While there, he developed his ideas on ethics and religion through discussion with other scholars. In 1769, he left Cambridge without taking a degree to become secretary to the British ambassador in Madrid. Back in England two years later, he began lecturing on moral philosophy at the Royal Academy of Science in London. In 1773, he married Mary Wilkinson. One year later, she died giving birth to their only child, a daughter. These pieces argued against the existence of God based on reason alone. In 1790, he was appointed professor of natural theology at the new University of York. Two years later, he was elected president of Queens' College, Cambridge.