Life
He was the son of Robert Freind, headmaster of Westminster School and Jane, daughter of Samuel de L'Angle, prebendary of Westminster Abbey, Westminster. The family name was also spelled 'Friend'.Henry John Todd, ''Some Account of the Deans of Canterbury'', Canterbury, 1793, pp. 219-224. He was educated at Westminster School (1727) and then at Christ Church, Oxford (1731; M.A. 1738). In 1739 his father resigned the rectory of Witney (Oxfordshire) in his favour. In 1744 he was appointed a prebendary of Westminster Abbey and chaplain-in-ordinary to George II. In 1747 he also became rector of Islip, Oxfordshire, Islip near Oxford, with a dispensation to hold the rectory of Witney simultaneously. He obtained the degrees of B.D. and D.D. in 1748. From 1756 to 1760, he was Canon of the third prebend at Christ Church, Oxford, and from 1760 to his death Dean of Canterbury. Freind was married to Grace, daughter of William Robinson (1675–1720). Sir Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby was a brother-in-law. Todd records that 'He was a great Lover of Music, which he patronised and practised. Concerts at the Deanery, in his time, were frequent; and many of the Performers were the principal Gentlemen in Canterbury and the neighbourhood.' His influence in the constituency of Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency), Canterbury was reasonably strong although not always sufficient for successfully electing an MP.Pages 99 to 102,Lewis Namier, ''The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III'' (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)Works
The English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) lists two publications: ''A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at St. Margaret’s Westminster, on Thursday, January 30, 1755. Being appointed to be observed as the Day of the Martyrdom of King Charles I. By William Freind, D. D. Prebendary of Westminster, and Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty'' (London, 1755); and ''Concio ad clerum in synodo provinciali Cantuariensis Provinciæ, habita ad D. Pauli die 6to Novembris, A.D. MDCCLXI. A Gulielmo Freind, ...'', (Londini, 1761).References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freind, William 1710s births 1766 deaths Deans of Canterbury Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford