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Venn: Adm. sizar (age 18) at MAGDALENE, May 19, 1775. S. of Henry, of Cawston, Norfolk. School, Martham (The Rev. T. Bowman). ' Matric. Michs. 1775; B.A. 1779; M.A. 1782. Fellow. Ord. deacon, 1779, before he reached the canonical age,
and licensed as Curate to Dewsbury, Yorks., on the recommendation of Henry Venn, the evangelical Vicar of Huddersfield. Opened a school for boys at Squirrel Hall, Liversedge, 1783, which he transferred to Heald's Hall, Liversedge, 1795. V. of Hartshead, 1795-1803. Built a church at Liversedge, of which he was incumbent until 1841. Preb. of York. Charlotte Brontë saw him when she was 10 years old, and carried away a vivid impression of his stern martial air; she used him as the prototype of Matthew Helstone in Shirley. Took delight in breaking in difficult horses, but opposed bull-baiting. Died Aug. 9, 1841, aged 84