Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Penny, John (1803-1885)
PENNY, JOHN (1803–1885), journalist, born on 16 Feb. 1803, was third son of Elias Penny, bookseller and publisher, of Sherborne, Dorset, and was educated at the king's school there. In 1828 he became proprietor and editor of the old ‘Sherborne Journal.’ In the columns of the paper he championed the cause of reform, and thus earned the gratitude of the whigs. In 1832 he published a pamphlet entitled ‘Dorsetshire emancipated from Tory Dominion,’ and was rewarded by Lord John Russell with the stamp-distributorship of Dorset. Soon afterwards he was promoted to a similar but more important post at Leeds. While there he wrote a drama, called ‘Stephen, King of England,’ 8vo, London, 1851, which was subsequently produced at the Leeds Theatre and favourably received. In 1858 he gave up the ‘Sherborne Journal,’ and subsequently retired from official life. He died at Bath on 7 Feb. 1885, and was buried at Exeter with his wife and only son, who had predeceased him. Penny's eldest brother, William Webb Penny (1799–1888), was proprietor and editor of the ‘Sherborne Mercury,’ one of the oldest papers in the west of England, from 1829 till 1842. His youngest brother, Charles Penny, D.D. (1809–1875), of Pembroke College, Oxford, was head master of Crewkerne grammar school from 1838 until 1875, and for many years rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset.
[Sherborne Journal, 12 Feb. 1885; Mayo's Bibl. Dorset.; Allibone's Dict. of Authors; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1874; information from the Rev. E. L. Penny, D.D.]