Fenn, John, Sir (1739 -1794)

Sir John Fenn, of East Dereham in Norfolk, was the son of John Fenn, surgeon of Norwich. He matriculated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1756, took his B.A. in 1761 and his M.A. in 1764, and was a Fellow of the College until he married, on 1 January 1766, Eleanor daughter of Sheppard Frere of Roydon in Suffolk. An antiquary and editor of the Paston Letters, he dedicated the first twovolumes to George III, and was knighted by the King. He was a close friend of Thomas Martin, lawyer and antiquary, who died in 1771, and to whom he left at least part of his library. Sir John had no children and his library was apparently inherited by his nephew John Frere. Some books from it were sold in London in December 1919.