Background
Born at Totnes, Devon, on 20 May 1776, he was the son of Walter Venning, a merchant, by his wife Mary Annual
merchant philanthropist treasurer
Born at Totnes, Devon, on 20 May 1776, he was the son of Walter Venning, a merchant, by his wife Mary Annual
He was educated at Totnes grammar school, and at age 14 was placed in the counting-house of Messrs.
Jackson & Company, a firm of Russia merchants in London. Venning went to Saint St. Petersburg in 1793, and made as successful career there as a merchant. After his brother"s death in 1821, he visited prisonsin Sweden, Germany, France, and England.
He made reports and suggestions, which he submitted to the Russian government, meeting both Alexander I and Nicholas I. In addition to prison reforms, he worked for improvements in lunatic asylums.
In 1830 Venning settled in Norfolk, where he took part in benevolent and evangelical work. He died at Norwich on 11 April 1858.
Venning was married on 13 September 1805 to the daughter of James Meybohm, a merchant of Saint St. Petersburg. She survived him and left issue.