George Austen

George Austen (1731–1805) was a cleric of the Church of England, rector of Deane and Steventon in Hampshire. He is known as the father of Jane Austen. Early life Austen was the son of William Austen, of Tonbridge, Kent. He and his sister Philadelphia were orphaned when George was nine years old, and he was taken under the wing of his wealthy uncle Francis Austen. He attended Tonbridge School and St John's College, Oxford. 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. He was a proctor in 1759 and graduated as a Bachelor of Divinity in 1760. Career