VENN
Adm. pens. (age 16) at TRINITY, Feb. 6, 1811. [4th] s. of Joseph, cloth-manufacturer, of Leeds (and Anne, dau. of Richard Wilson, of Kendal). B. [July 30], 1794, at Leeds. School, Richmond, Yorks. ' Matric. Michs. 1812; Scholar, 1814; B.A. (10th Wrangler) 1816; M.A. 1819. Fellow, 1817-55. Adm. at Lincoln's Inn, Feb. 2, 1816. Called to the Bar, 1825. Ord. priest (Norwich, Litt. dim. from Ely) June 18, 1826. Formed with Whewell, Sedgwick, Thirlwall, and others, the brilliant group known as the Northern Lights. His life was devoted to scientific pursuits, chiefly astronomical, and especially to the active promotion of the building of the University Observatory. Secretary, Royal Astronomical Society, 1829-31. F.R.S., 1830. Member of the Royal Commissions on weights and measures, 1838 and 1843. Reconstructed the standard of length, 1844-5. Determined longitudes of Antwerp, Liverpool, Valentia, etc. Died, unmarried, Aug. 4, 1855, at Reading. In 1858, his sister and sole heiress, gave £10,000 to be held by Trinity on trust for the establishment of an Astronomical exhibition in his memory and to benefit the Observatory, and in 1863, another £2000 to the Observatory to purchase one or more large instruments. (Boase, III. 535; Inns of Court; Hist. Reg., 177; D.N.B.)