STAUNTON, William, clergyman, born in Chester, England, 20 April, 1803. At the age of fifteen he came to the United States, and received a good English and classical training under one of the professors in Hobart college, Geneva, New York He studied theology under Reverend Dr. (afterward Bishop) Whitehouse in Rochester, New York, from 1830 till 1833, was ordained deacon in Oneida Castle, New York, 9 June, 1833, by Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk, and priest in Zion church, Palmyra, New York, 7 September, 1834, by the same bishop. During his diaconate he served as missionary in Palmyra and Lyons, New York He was rector of St. James's church, Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1835-'7, and of St. Peter's church, Morristown, New Jersey, in 1840-'7, founded St. Peter's church, Brooklyn, New York, and was its first rector in 1848-'51, and was rector of Trinity church, Potsdam, New York, in 1852-'9. Since then, having given up active parochial work, he has resided in New York city, and been engaged in literary and other occupations. He received the degree of D. D. from Hobart in 1856. Dr. Staunton has published "Dictionary of the Church," which was subsequently revised and enlarged under the title of "Ecclesiastical Dictionary" (New York, 1844-'61); "The Catechist's Manual" (1850); "Songs and Prayers for the Family Altar" (1860) ; "Book of Common Praise" (1866) ; a prize "Te Deum " and original "Voluntaries for the Organ"; and "Episodes in Clerical and Parish Life" (1887). In 1878 he took charge of the musical science department in a new cyclopaedia, and wrote nearly all the articles on that subject. He has also contributed freely to church literature in magazines and reviews.