Reverend George Austen

Reverend George Austen was a member of the Austen family and the father of the renowned English novelist Jane Austen. He was born in Tonbridge, Kent, England, to William Austen and Rebecca Austen (née Hampshire), and was educated at Tonbridge School and St John's College, Oxford. Reverend Austen's life was closely tied to the Church of England and the Oxford University, where he studied alongside notable figures such as William Blackstone and Edmund Burke. His family connections included relationships with the Leigh family of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, and the Knight family of Chawton, Hampshire.

● Early Life and Education

Reverend George Austen's early life was marked by his education at Tonbridge School, where he was a student from 1741 to 1747, and later at St John's College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1747 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1751. During his time at Oxford University, he was influenced by the works of John Locke and David Hume, and was acquainted with notable figures such as William Warburton and Thomas Secker. Reverend Austen's family, including his parents William Austen and Rebecca Austen (née Hampshire), and his siblings, Philadelphia Austen and Leonard Austen, played an important role in shaping his early life and education. His connections to the Austen family and the Leigh family of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, also had a significant impact on his life and career.

● Career

Reverend George Austen's career as a member of the Anglican clergy began in 1754, when he was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Winchester. He later became the Rector of Steventon in Hampshire, a position he held from 1761 until his death in 1805. During his tenure, he was responsible for the spiritual well-being of his parishioners, including the Lefroy family and the Bigg family, and was known for his strong connections to the Church of England and the Oxford University. Reverend Austen's career was also marked by his relationships with notable figures such as William Pitt the Younger and Charles James Fox, and his involvement in the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

● Family and Personal Life

Reverend George Austen married Cassandra Austen (née Leigh), a member of the Leigh family of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, in 1764, and the couple had eight children, including Jane Austen, Cassandra Austen, Edward Austen Knight, Henry Thomas Austen, Francis William Austen, Charles Austen, and George Austen. The family lived at the Steventon Rectory in Hampshire, where they were part of a close-knit community that included the Lefroy family and the Bigg family. Reverend Austen's personal life was marked by his love of literature and music, and he was known to have been an avid reader of the works of William Shakespeare and Henry Fielding. His family connections, including his relationships with the Knight family of Chawton, Hampshire, and the Austen family, played an important role in shaping his personal life and career.

● Literary Influence

Reverend George Austen's literary influence on his daughter Jane Austen is well-documented, and it is known that he encouraged her to write and provided her with access to a wide range of literary works, including those of Ann Radcliffe and Frances Burney. The family's love of literature and music was also reflected in their participation in amateur theatrical performances, which were a common feature of life at the Steventon Rectory. Reverend Austen's connections to the Oxford University and the Church of England also had an impact on his daughter's writing, with many of her works reflecting the social and cultural norms of the time, including the influence of Samuel Johnson and William Cowper. The literary circle that surrounded the Austen family, including figures such as James Austen and Henry Austen, also played an important role in shaping Jane Austen's writing style and literary influences.

● Later Life and Legacy

Reverend George Austen's later life was marked by his continued service as the Rector of Steventon and his involvement in the local community, including his relationships with the Lefroy family and the Bigg family. He died in 1805, at the age of 73, and was buried in the Steventon churchyard. Reverend Austen's legacy is closely tied to that of his daughter Jane Austen, who went on to become one of the most celebrated English novelists of all time, with works such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility remaining popular to this day. The Austen family's connections to the Leigh family of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, and the Knight family of Chawton, Hampshire, also continue to be celebrated, with many of their descendants going on to become notable figures in their own right, including Edward Austen Knight and Francis William Austen. The Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, Hampshire, is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Austen family and their connections to the Church of England and the Oxford University. Category:Anglican clergy