Background
Born at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, he was descended from a family formerly of Bray in Berkshire.
Born at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, he was descended from a family formerly of Bray in Berkshire.
He was privately educated in Reading. In 1826 he settled in Cambridge, and in 1836 was elected coroner of the borough. Four years later he qualified as a solicitor, and in time acquired an extensive practice, but he began to devote almost the whole of his time to antiquarian research — especially on the history of the University of Cambridge.
In 1849 he resigned as borough coroner when he was elected to the post of town clerk, which he retained till his death.
He is buried in the Mill Road cemetery, Cambridge.