George Stovin Venables
Encyclopedia
George Stovin Venables born in Wales
, was a journalist and a barrister
at the English bar.
His father was Richard Venables, vicar of Nantmel and then archdeacon
of Carmarthen
. He was educated at Eton College
, Charterhouse School
, and Jesus College, Cambridge
. At Cambridge, he won the Chancellor's Gold Medal
for poetry in 1831, and was a member of The Apostles
society from 1832. He became a Fellow of Jesus College.
He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple
in 1836, and was in practice for over 40 years. He also wrote much journalism from the mid-1850s, as a leader writer for the London Times
and the Saturday Review
.
His literary connections included time at Charterhouse with William Makepeace Thackeray
(they fought); the character George Warrington in Pendennis
is said to be based on Venables. A friendship with Alfred, Lord Tennyson arose from Cambridge days. He wrote an anonymous book of verse Joint Compositions (1848) with Henry Lushington
. He was an early and favourable reviewer of Thomas Carlyle
, another friend.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, was a journalist and a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at the English bar.
His father was Richard Venables, vicar of Nantmel and then archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, and Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. At Cambridge, he won the Chancellor's Gold Medal
Chancellor's Gold Medal
The Chancellor's Gold Medal is a prestigious annual award at Cambridge University for poetry, paralleling Oxford University's Newdigate prize. It was first presented by Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh during his time as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge...
for poetry in 1831, and was a member of The Apostles
The Apostles
The Apostles are an experimental punk rock band who developed within the confines of the 1980s Anarcho Punk scene in the UK, but did not necessarily adhere to the aesthetics of that movement.-History:...
society from 1832. He became a Fellow of Jesus College.
He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1836, and was in practice for over 40 years. He also wrote much journalism from the mid-1850s, as a leader writer for the London Times
Times
The Times is a UK daily newspaper, the original English language newspaper titled "Times". Times may also refer to:In newspapers:*The Times , went defunct in 2005*The Times *The Times of Northwest Indiana...
and the Saturday Review
Saturday Review (London)
The Saturday Review of politics, literature, science, and art was a London weekly newspaper established by A. J. B. Beresford Hope in 1855....
.
His literary connections included time at Charterhouse with William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
(they fought); the character George Warrington in Pendennis
Pendennis
Pendennis is a novel by the English author William Makepeace Thackeray. It is set in 19th century England, particularly in London. The main hero is a young English gentleman Arthur Pendennis who is born in the country and sets out for London to seek his place in life and society...
is said to be based on Venables. A friendship with Alfred, Lord Tennyson arose from Cambridge days. He wrote an anonymous book of verse Joint Compositions (1848) with Henry Lushington
Henry Lushington
Henry Lushington , colonial administrator, chief secretary to the government of Malta.Lushington was born in Singleton, near Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, 13 April 1812. His father, Edmund Henry Lushington, of Queens' College, Cambridge, B.A. 1787, M.A...
. He was an early and favourable reviewer of Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
, another friend.