Comments
VENN
Adm. pens. (age 19) at PETERHOUSE, Nov. 9, 1754, from Trinity College, Dublin, where he had been adm. 1753. [Elder] s. of John (1722), Dean of Cashel [and Anne, dau. of Daniel Gansel, of Donnyland Hall, Essex. B. 1736.] School, Chesterfield. ' Matric. Michs. 1754; Scholar, 1754; B.A. (2nd Wrangler) 1757; M.A. 1760. Fellow, 1761. Ord. deacon, 1762; priest, 1763. Lecturer in mathematics at Cambridge; also began a series of lectures on the Greek testament, 1768, but several Colleges forbade the attendance of their undergraduates on account of his Unitarian views. Favoured abolition of University and Clerical subscriptions. R. of Ovington, Norfolk, 1764. V. of Gamlingay, Cambs., 1764. R. of Homersfield with St Cross, and V. of Flixton, Suffolk, 1769-75. Resigned these preferments, 1775, on religious grounds. Studied medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital. M.D., St Andrews, 1777. L.R.C.P., 1777. Practised in [p.556] London, 1778-86. Adm. at Lincoln's Inn, Nov. 9, 1780. F.R.S., 1779. A prison philanthropist. Married, Dec. 29, 1764, Anne, dau. of Mr James and Lady Dorothy Torkington, of Stukeley, Hunts. Author, Thoughts on the Construction and Polity of Prisons, etc. His Life and Works were edited by Dr John Disney soon after his death. Died s.p. Mar. 2, 1786. (Inns of Court; Burke, L.G.; D.N.B.; T. A. Walker, 309; G. Mag., 1765, 97; 1786, I. 267 and 1786, 194, 827.)