Henry Gunning
Encyclopedia
Henry Gunning was senior Esquire Bedell
of the University of Cambridge
.
, on 13 February 1768. His father, Francis Gunning, who was vicar of Newton and also of the adjacent parishes of Thriplow and Hauxton, was grandson of William Gunning, the first cousin and secretary of Peter Gunning
, successively bishop of Chichester and Ely. Henry was educated first at Ely
, in a school kept by Jeffrey Bentham, a minor canon of the cathedral, and brother of James Bentham
; and afterwards in the endowed school of Sleaford, under the Rev. Edward Waterson. He entered Christ's College, Cambridge
, as a sizar in October 1784, became a scholar of that house, and graduated B.A. as sixth wrangler in 1788 (M.A. 1791). On 13 Oct. 1789 he was elected one of the esquire bedells of the university. He became senior esquire bedell in 1827. In that capacity he received gold chains from three successive chancellors of the university, viz. John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden
, 1834, the Duke of Northumberland
, 1844, and Prince Albert
, 1847.
An advanced whig in politics he took an active part in local politics, was a strenuous supporter of the cause of parliamentary reform, and, after the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act
, was from 1835 to 1841 a member of the town council of Cambridge. In 1847 an accidental fall left him incurably lame. His official connection with the university continued for more than sixty-five years. He was highly esteemed for his courtesy, gentlemanly bearing, and readiness to communicate his extensive knowledge respecting academic ceremonies and privileges. He died in Brighton
on 4 January 1854.
He married in 1794 Miss Bertram, whom he survived many years. His eldest son— and the only one who survived him—was Henry Bertram Gunning of Little Shelford
, Cambridgeshire
, formerly a charity commissioner and an assistant tithe commissioner. Another son, Francis John Gunning, was a solicitor and town clerk of Cambridge from 1836 to 1840; and a third son, Frederick Gunning, was a barrister in extensive practice on the Norfolk circuit, and the author of A Practical Treatise on the Law of Tolls,' London, 1833, 8vo.
Gunning's chief literary work was Reminiscences of the University, Town, and County of Cambridge from the year 1780 [to 1820], 2 vols. London, 1854, 8vo. Though he did not begin these entertaining sketches until he was more than eighty years old, they betray few marks of senility. The anecdotes of his contemporaries are highly amusing, and his facts are generally accurate. The work was published posthumously; it had been dictated to an amanuensis, Miss M. Beart, who prepared it for publication. Prefixed to the first volume is a portrait of the author, lithographed by Day & Son. A fine portrait of him, in oil, painted by Dr. Woodhouse, is in the possession of Mrs. Cooper of Cambridge, widow of Charles Henry Cooper
. Gunning also prepared a new edition of Adam Wall's Ceremonies observed in the Senate House of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 1828, 8vo, and wrote a pamphlet on Compositions for Degrees, 1850.
Esquire Bedell
An Esquire Bedell is a junior ceremonial officer of a university, usually with official duties relating to the conduct of ceremonies for the conferment of degrees. The word is closely related to the archaic Bedel and modern English Beadle. The term is primarily associated with universities in the...
of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Life
Gunning was born at Newton, CambridgeshireNewton, Cambridgeshire
Newton is a civil parish and small village in Cambridgeshire, England. Situated around 7 miles to the south-west of Cambridge, its lies on the old coaching road between London and Cambridge...
, on 13 February 1768. His father, Francis Gunning, who was vicar of Newton and also of the adjacent parishes of Thriplow and Hauxton, was grandson of William Gunning, the first cousin and secretary of Peter Gunning
Peter Gunning
Peter Gunning was an English Royalist church leader, Bishop of Chichester and later of Ely.-Life:He was born at Hoo St Werburgh, in Kent, and educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and Clare College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1633. Having taken orders, he advocated the Royalist...
, successively bishop of Chichester and Ely. Henry was educated first at Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
, in a school kept by Jeffrey Bentham, a minor canon of the cathedral, and brother of James Bentham
James Bentham
James Bentham was an English clergyman and historian of Ely.-Life:From a clerical family, he was the fourth son of the Rev. Samuel Bentham, vicar of Witchford near Ely, and brother of Edward Bentham. From Ely grammar school, he was admitted 26 March 1727 to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he...
; and afterwards in the endowed school of Sleaford, under the Rev. Edward Waterson. He entered Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, as a sizar in October 1784, became a scholar of that house, and graduated B.A. as sixth wrangler in 1788 (M.A. 1791). On 13 Oct. 1789 he was elected one of the esquire bedells of the university. He became senior esquire bedell in 1827. In that capacity he received gold chains from three successive chancellors of the university, viz. John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden
John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden
John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden KG, PC , styled Viscount Bayham from 1786 to 1794 and known as The Earl Camden from 1794 to 1812, was a British politician...
, 1834, the Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
, 1844, and Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
, 1847.
An advanced whig in politics he took an active part in local politics, was a strenuous supporter of the cause of parliamentary reform, and, after the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act
Municipal Corporations Act 1835
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...
, was from 1835 to 1841 a member of the town council of Cambridge. In 1847 an accidental fall left him incurably lame. His official connection with the university continued for more than sixty-five years. He was highly esteemed for his courtesy, gentlemanly bearing, and readiness to communicate his extensive knowledge respecting academic ceremonies and privileges. He died in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
on 4 January 1854.
He married in 1794 Miss Bertram, whom he survived many years. His eldest son— and the only one who survived him—was Henry Bertram Gunning of Little Shelford
Little Shelford
Little Shelford is a village located to the south of Cambridge, in the county of Cambridgeshire, in eastern England. The River Granta lies between it and the larger village of Great Shelford, and both are served by Shelford railway station, which is on the line from Cambridge to London Liverpool...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, formerly a charity commissioner and an assistant tithe commissioner. Another son, Francis John Gunning, was a solicitor and town clerk of Cambridge from 1836 to 1840; and a third son, Frederick Gunning, was a barrister in extensive practice on the Norfolk circuit, and the author of A Practical Treatise on the Law of Tolls,' London, 1833, 8vo.
Gunning's chief literary work was Reminiscences of the University, Town, and County of Cambridge from the year 1780 [to 1820], 2 vols. London, 1854, 8vo. Though he did not begin these entertaining sketches until he was more than eighty years old, they betray few marks of senility. The anecdotes of his contemporaries are highly amusing, and his facts are generally accurate. The work was published posthumously; it had been dictated to an amanuensis, Miss M. Beart, who prepared it for publication. Prefixed to the first volume is a portrait of the author, lithographed by Day & Son. A fine portrait of him, in oil, painted by Dr. Woodhouse, is in the possession of Mrs. Cooper of Cambridge, widow of Charles Henry Cooper
Charles Henry Cooper
Charles Henry Cooper was an English antiquarian.-Life:Born at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, he was descended from a family formerly of Bray in Berkshire. He was privately educated in Reading. In 1826 he settled in Cambridge, and in 1836 was elected coroner of the borough...
. Gunning also prepared a new edition of Adam Wall's Ceremonies observed in the Senate House of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 1828, 8vo, and wrote a pamphlet on Compositions for Degrees, 1850.