WEST, William, clergyman, born in Fairfax county, Virginia, in 1739; died near Baltimore, Maryland, 30 March, 1791. His birthplace was near Mount Vernon, and he became intimate with Washington. He went to England for orders, which he received from the bishop of London, 24 November, 1761. He served two years in his native province, in 1761-'63 was incumbent of St. Margaret's, Westminster parish, Ann Arundel County, Maryland, in 1763-'7, of St. Andrew's, St. Mary's county, in 1767-'72, of St. George's parish, Harford County, in 1772-'9, and of St. Paul's, Baltimore county, in 1779-'91, officiating in connection therewith in St. Thomas's parish, ten miles distant. He received the degree of D. D. from Washington college, Maryland, in 1785, was active in the work of settling church affairs, directly after the Revolution, and was a correspondent of Bishop White, who valued his sound judgment and accurate acquaintance with the important subject of organizing the Protestant Episcopal church and in revising the liturgy, He was secretary of the convention of Maryland, in June, 1784, and president in May, 1790; and was a delegate to the general convention.