Archibald Bower (17 January 1686 – 3 September 1766) was a Scottish historian, now noted for his complicated and varying religious faith, and the accounts he gave of it, now considered by scholars to lack credibility.

Another account had been previously published by Richard Baron in 1750,[3] allegedly based on the story Bower gave of his "escape" to Dr. Hill, chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury.

[1] On his arrival in England in June or July 1726 Bower became acquainted with Edward Aspinwall, formerly a Jesuit, who introduced him to Samuel Clarke.

After several meetings with Aspinwall, Clarke, and George Berkeley, he withdrew from the communion of the Roman Catholic church, and left the Society of Jesus.

[2] Through the royal physician Thomas Goodman, Bower obtained a recommendation to Lord Aylmer, who wanted a classical tutor.

He was for several years on close terms with Aylmer and was introduced to his connections, including George Lyttelton, who became a loyal friend.

He began a correspondence with Father Sheldon, the Jesuit provincial; and he received back his invested funds on 20 June 1747.

[1] On the death of Francis Say,[4] keeper of Queen Caroline of Ansbach's library (10 September 1748), Bower obtained the place through the interest of Lyttelton with the prime minister Henry Pelham.

The epitaph on his tomb describes him as "a man exemplary for every social virtue, justly esteemed by all who knew him for his strict honesty and integrity, a faithful friend, and a sincere christian".

It was in 1754 that the first serious attack was made on the work, in a pamphlet by Alban Butler, published anonymously at Douai as Remarks on the two first volumes of the late Lives of the Popes; in letters from a Gentleman to a Friend in the Country.

Then, John Douglas published in 1756 a pamphlet[6] supporting the genuineness of the letters; and testimony of a Mrs. Hoyles whom Bower had converted.

The rest of his history did not appear till just before the author's death, when the sixth and seventh volumes were published together; but with the period from 1600 to 1758 covered in 26 pages.