Henry Gunning facts for kids

Henry Gunning was born on February 13, 1768, in Newton, South Cambridgeshire. He passed away on January 4, 1854, in Brighton. He was a very important person at the University of Cambridge. He held the special job of senior Esquire Bedell. Henry Gunning is mostly remembered for his interesting books about his life and times.

Life of Henry Gunning

Henry Gunning was born in Newton, South Cambridgeshire. This was on February 13, 1768. His father, Francis Gunning, was a vicar. A vicar is a type of church leader. Francis served in Newton and nearby areas.

Henry went to school in Ely first. Later, he studied at a school in Sleaford. In October 1784, he started at Christ's College, Cambridge. He was a "sizar," which meant he received financial help.

He worked hard and became a scholar. In 1788, he earned his first degree. He was the sixth best math student in his year. This was a big achievement!

On October 13, 1789, Henry got a special job. He was chosen as one of the "esquire bedells" for the university. An esquire bedell helps with official ceremonies. They also carry symbols of authority. In 1827, he became the senior esquire bedell.

He received gold chains from three important leaders. These were the chancellors of the university. They included the Duke of Northumberland and Prince Albert.

Henry Gunning was very active in politics. He was a "Whig," which was a political group. They believed in more power for the people. He strongly supported making changes to how Parliament worked. This was called parliamentary reform.

After a new law in 1835, he joined the town council of Cambridge. He served there from 1835 to 1841. In 1847, he had an accident. This left him with a permanent limp.

He worked for the university for over 65 years. People respected him a lot. He was known for being polite and helpful. He knew a lot about university traditions. Henry Gunning died in Brighton on January 4, 1854.

Henry Gunning's Writings

Henry Gunning's most famous work is a book. It is called Reminiscences of the University, Town, and County of Cambridge from the year 1780. This book has two volumes. It was published in London in 1854.

He started writing these stories when he was over 80 years old. The book was published after he passed away. He told his stories to someone else. This person wrote them down for him.

The first volume of his book has a picture of him. It was made using a special printing method. Another painting of him exists. It is owned by a family in Cambridge. Henry Gunning also helped update another book. It was about ceremonies at the university. He also wrote a short paper about fees for degrees.

Henry Gunning's Family

Henry Gunning married Miss Bertram in 1794. She passed away many years before him. He had several sons. Only one son, Henry Bertram Gunning, lived longer than him.

Henry Bertram Gunning lived in Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire. He worked as a charity commissioner. He also helped with land valuation. Another son, Francis John Gunning, was a lawyer. He was also the town clerk of Cambridge for a few years. A third son, Frederick Gunning, was also a lawyer. He wrote a book about legal fees.

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  Henry Gunning