Comments
VENN
Adm. sizar at CLARE, June 20, 1793. Doubtful if resided. B. in Cumberland. [2nd s. of William (and Hannah Ponsonby). Of good old yeoman family. B. Apr. 23, 1767, at Whitbeck. School, Hawkshead Grammar.] Took orders and first resided in Lincoln, where he constructed an astronomical clock and an orrery; also an apparatus for showing the phenomena of Jupiter's satellites. P.C. of Killington, Westmorland, 1799-1801. R. of Perivale, Middlesex, 1810-12. R. of S. Kilworth, Leics., 1817-47. Owner of a large private school at Temple Grove, East Sheen, Surrey, in 1812-21, where he established an observatory. Made many notable observations also at Kilworth. F.R.S., 1819; gold medal, 1829. Hon. LL.D., Glasgow, 1819. Largely instrumental in founding the London Astronomical Society, 1820. Member of the Board of Visitors to the Royal Observatory, 1830. Observed Halley's comet, Oct. 29, 1835, and in 1839 deduced from his own determinations a value for the obliquity of the eclipse. Married twice, and had issue by his first wife. Author, Introduction to Practical Astronomy, etc. Died Sept. 6, 1847, at Kilworth. M.I. in the church there. (D.N.B.)