George Austen (cleric)

George Austen (1731 – 21 January 1805) was a cleric of the Church of England, rector of Deane and Steventon in Hampshire.

[2] He and his sister Philadelphia[3] were orphaned when George was nine years old, and he was taken under the wing of his wealthy uncle Francis Austen.

[2][5] After matriculating at St John's on 2 July 1747, aged sixteen, Austen graduated BA on 12 February 1751, promoted to MA by seniority in 1754.

[6] His granddaughter Anna Lefroy later recalled: I have always understood that he was considered extremely handsome, and it was a beauty which stood by him all his life.

They had eight children: Their second child, George Austen, suffered from severe epilepsy, and did not grow up in the family home.