William Wynn Westcott (17 December 1848 – 30 July 1925) was a coroner, ceremonial magician, and Freemason born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England.^[1]. He was a Supreme Magus (chief) of the S.R.I.A and went on to co found the Golden Dawn.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia 1.2 The Golden Dawn 1.3 Later years 2 Bibliography 2.1 As translator 3 References 4 Sources 5 External links

[edit] Biography

He was a doctor of medicine.

In 1871 he became active in Freemasonry where he become Master of his home Lodge three years later and also the Quatuor Coronati research lodge.

In 1880 he began studying the Kabbalah.

[edit] Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia

Wescott became chief of the SRIA with the death of William Robert Woodman.^[2]

[edit] The Golden Dawn

Wescott co-founded the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn with Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and William Robert Woodman in 1887, using the motto V.H. Frater Sapere Aude.

Around this time, he was also active in the Theosophical Society.

In 1896, he abandoned public involvement with the Golden Dawn due to pressure regarding his job as a Crown Coroner, with which it was seen as an unseemly association. He continued to head the S.R.I.A. and later was involved with the Golden Dawn breakaway Stella Matutina.

[edit] Later years

He retired as a coroner after 1910, emigrated to South Africa in 1918, and died in Durban in 1925.

[edit] Bibliography

He was the author of many books on occult topics.

• The Origin of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons
• The Occult Power of Numbers
• An Introduction to the Study of the Kabalah
• A Lecture To Inquirers Into Theosophy And Practical Occultism
• History of the Rosicrucian Societies in Anglia

[edit] As translator

Books translated into English:

• Book of Formation
• The Chaldean Oracles of Zoroaster

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• The Isiac Tablet of Cardinal Bembo By William Wynn Westcott
• The Golden Dawn By Israel Regardie

[edit] External links

• Biography of Dr. William Wynn Westcott
• Bishop Wilkins College SRIA