of the "professor" about him; and, as this fact comes to be commonly recognized, it may be hoped the memory of his public forwardness will be effaced, and full justice done to his remarkable acquirements and good intentions.
Mr. Courtney, M.P., was born at Penzance in July, 1832. His father, John Sampson Courtney of Alverton House, was a native of Ilfracombe, where his ancestors had been settled for two hundred years at least. Courtney, senior, early in life took to banking, and has for half a century been connected with the firm of Bolitho, Sons, & Co., bankers, Penzance.
At an early age young Courtney was sent to the Regent House Academy, the chief school in the neighborhood; and from the first he displayed conspicuous talent. Latterly his studies were superintended by Dr. Willan, a private tutor. Then for a short time he was employed in the bank of Messrs. Bolitho, Sons, & Co.; but finally, in his nineteenth year, it was recognized that a university career would best suit his strong love of study and remarkable powers of application. Accordingly, in 1851, he was entered as a student of St. John's College, Cambridge; and in 1855 he graduated with honors which speak volumes in themselves. He was second wrangler and Smith's prizeman.
Needless to say, such honorable achievements were not long without their reward. He became a fellow of his college, and was speedily immersed in lucrative private tuition. His preliminary training had not been specially adapted to secure him such distinctions, and it is, therefore, impossible to withhold our admiration for the vigor of mind and body which enabled him to triumph so signally.
