Comments
VENN
Adm. pens. at CORPUS CHRISTI, July 19, 1776. Of Essex. [S. of Lieut.-Gen. Archibald, M.P., 13th Dragoons. B. Sept. 27, 1758, at Witham, Essex.] School, Harrow. Scholar, 1777; matric. Michs. 1778; B.A. 1781; Member's Prize, 1782; M.A. 1784; B.D. 1792; D.D. ( Lit. Reg.) 1795. Fellow, 1782. Tutor, 1787. Master, 1795-1822. Proctor, 1788. Vice-Chancellor, 1795-6 and 1810-11. Ord. deacon (Ely) May 26, 1782; priest (Peterb.) Nov. 10, 1783; C. of Whittlesford, Cambs., 1785. V. of Gedney, Lincs., 1796. Married, June 15, 1797, Mary, dau. of Anthony [p.326] Mainwaring, of Shirrall Hall, Staffs., and niece of Dr Mainwaring, Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, and had issue. During his Mastership the College property was considerably improved by several enclosures which took place so generally throughout the country about this period; these included land in the parishes of Grantchester, Wilbraham, St Giles, Cambridge, Barnwell, and Landbeach. In 1797 the office of Protobibliothecarius was vacant, and the Heads nominated Philip Douglas, D.D., Master of Bene't, and Thomas Kerrich, B.D., President of Magdalene College. Dr Douglas was a decided invalid, and confined himself very much within the precincts of his Lodge, and dared not for any consideration pass three hours in the Public Library, which at that time there were no means of warming, and it was so extremely damp that few persons could pass any length of time in it with impunity. He had besides lost one eye, and suffered so much from inflamation in the other that he was frequently confined for days together to his bed (Historical Reg., 55, note 14). During his second Vice-Chancellorship, 1810-11, he presided at the installation of the Duke of Gloucester as Chancellor. The excessive thinness of both himself and his wife occasioned a distich by Mansel in which they were described as two splinters which make but one bone (Master's History of Corpus College). Died Jan. 2, 1822, aged 64. Buried in the College Chapel. M.I. Brother of Robert (1787). (Harrow Sch. Reg.; P. W. L. Adams, History of the Douglas Family; Burke, L.G.; Lamb, History of Corpus; D.N.B.; Northants. Clergy.)