Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Guise, William
GUISE, WILLIAM (1653?–1683), orientalist, born about 1653, the son of John Guise, came of a knightly family seated at Elmore Court, near Gloucester. He entered Oriel College, Oxford, in 1669 as a commoner, but graduated B.A. as a fellow of All Souls' College on 4 April 1674, proceeding M.A. on 16 Oct. 1677 (Wood, Fasti, ed. Bliss, ii. 343, 361). He was ordained, and continued to reside at Oxford 'in great esteem for his oriental learning.' In 1680 he resigned his fellowship on his marriage to Frances, daughter of George Southcote of Devonshire. He died of small-pox on 3 Sept. 1683, and was buried in the 'college' chancel in St. Michael's Church, Oxford, where a monument was soon afterwards erected to his memory by his widow. His will, dated 23 Aug. 1683, was proved at London on the following 16 Nov. by Frances Guise, his relict (registered in P. C. C. 124, Drax), his father, John Guise, and Sir John Guise, bart., being appointed the overseers.
He left issue a son John, a daughter Frances, and a child unborn. After his death Dr. Edward Bernard [q. v.], Savilian professor of astronomy, published 'Misnæ Pars: Ordinis primi Zeraim Tituli septem. Latinè vertit & commentario illustravit Gvlielmvs Gvisivs. Accedit Mosis Maimonidis Præfatio in Misnam Edv. Pocockio interprete,' 4to, Oxford, 1690. A few of Guise's manuscripts are among the Marshian collection in the Bodleian Library, such as a transcript of the Koran with a collation (No. 533), and several volumes of excerpts, historical and geographical.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 114-15; Burke's Extinct Baronetage; Burke's Peerage and Baronetage.]