Sir Isaac Pennington (1745-1817)

Born in Lancashire, Isaac Pennington entered St John's in 1762, and became a Fellow in 1768. He gained his MA in 1770, and his MD in 1777, and served as Professor of Chemistry for twenty years, before becoming Professor of Physic for a further twenty. He was also physician to Addenbrooke's hospital and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

Pennington's bequest

On his death Pennington left most of his books to the College. As one might expect, these consist in the main of medical texts, chiefly from the 18th century, including collections of medical dissertations from Edinburgh University. But his bequest includes older and more varied volumes too.

Provenance markings

The books left by Pennington bear a book label detailing his bequest. Translated it reads:

This book, with other excellent gifts, was bequeathed to St John's College Cambridge by the will of Isaac Pennington, knight, Regius Professor of Medicine, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and Senior Fellow of this College. 1817.