Second son of Sir John Acton. Entered Magdalene as a Fellow-Commoner in July 1819 but as a Roman Catholic, he could not proceed to a degree. The Test Act excluded Roman Catholics from the University and from taking degrees at this time, but was not a bar to residence in Magdalene as a Fellow Commoner.
Entered the service of papal government, elevated to the Sacred College in 1837, and became a Cardinal in 1842. During the pontificate of Gregory XVI he was consulted on all British questions. In December 1845. He was sole witness to the famous papal audiences with Czar Nicholas I.
Cardinal Acton was the uncle of Lord Acton, Regius Professor of Modern History.
In the College Magazine
Article: 'Magdalene's Cardinal and his Family. A Study in Scarlet', College Magazine, No. 46 (2001-02), pp. 95-106 (D.J.H. Murphy)