Penrose, John, 1778-1859

John Penrose was born on 15 December 1778 in Cardinham, Cornwall. His father, also named John, was vicar of that parish at the time of his birth. Penrose began his formal education at Exeter College, Oxford, but switched to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, after three months. He received a BA in 1799 and an MA in 1802. In 1814 Penrose married Elizabeth Cartwright, a teacher and author of children's books under the name Mrs. Markham. The couple were the parents of three sons. Penrose was ordained at Exeter in 1801. He held a number of ecclesiastical positions throughout his lifetime, including Vicar of Langton, Vicar of Poundstock, and Vicar of Bracebridge. In 1837 he was awarded perpetual curacy of North Hykeham, Lincolnshire. While serving as Bampton lecturer at Oxford in 1805, Penrose wrote Attempt to Prove the Truth of Christianity. His other significant published works include An Inquiry into the Nature of Human Motives (1820) and Of Christian Sincerity (1829). Penrose died on 9 August 1859.