" Dr
Tillotson died on November 24th, 1694. Wigs found favour with parsons,
and in course of time they appear to have been indispensable. A volume,
in 1765, was issued under the title of "Free Advice to a Young
Clergyman," from the pen of the Rev. John Chubbe, in which he
recommended the young preacher always to wear a full wig until age had
made his own hair respectable. Dr Randolph, on his advancement to the
bishopric, presumed to wait upon George IV. to kiss hands without
wearing a wig. This could not be overlooked by the king, and he said,
"My lord, you must have a wig." Bishops wore wigs until the days of
William IV. Bishop Blomfield is said to have been the first bishop to
set the example of wearing his own hair. Even as late as 1858, at the
marriage of the Princess Royal of England, Archbishop Sumner appeared in
his wig.
Medical men kept up the custom of wearing wigs for a long period:
perhaps they felt like a character in Fielding's farce, "The Mock
Doctor," who exclaims, "I must have a physician's habit, for a physician
can no more prescribe without a full wig than without a fee.
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