Person:Edward Henry Perowne (1)

Edward Henry Perowne was born on January 8, 1826 at Burdwan, Bengal the son of the Reverend John Perowne, a missionary with the Church Missionary Society and his wife Eliza Scott, a teacher in the missionary school.

Educated at Norwich he entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge on April 25, 1846. He was a Scholar in 1847, awarded the Porson prize in 1848 and the Members' prize, 1849 in 1852, obtaining his B.A. degree in 1850.

Ordained deacon in 1850 and priest in 1851 he was Curate of St John-the-Baptist, Maddermarket, Norwich, his father’s parish between 1850 and 1851. Although his main career was to be in Education he held various ecclesiastical posts throughout his life. Whitehall Preacher, 1864 to 1866, Prebentary of St Asaph, 1877, Honorary Canon of Worcester, 1894. Honorary Chaplain to Queen Victoria, 1898-1900, Chaplain in Ordinary, 1900-1901 and Honorary Chaplain to King Edward VII in 1901.

Edward was a Fellow of Corpus Christi in 1850 and obtained his M.A. in 1853. From 1858 to 1879 he was a tutor at the College and during this period obtained the degrees of B.D. 1860 and D.D. 1873. He was Master of the College from 1879 to 1906 which he combined with the position of Vice-Chancellor from 1879 to 1881. Other post held included Hulsean Lecturer, 1866. Senior Proctor, 1871 to 1872 and Lady Margaret Preacher, 1877. He was author of several works including The Christian's Daily Life and a Life of Faith.

Edward Henry Perowne was described as ‘Devoted to his college and university, a sound disciplinarian, a man of many friendships and wide interests, Perowne refused high preferment and was long one of the most conspicuous figures in the academic and social life of Cambridge. He was a rigid Conservative.’

Edward Henry Perowne died, unmarried on February 5, 1906 and is buried at Grantchester, Cambridgeshire.