The only son of Thomas Lowe Wheeler (1790-1849), an apothecary, and Clarissa Anne Wheeler née Wells (1791-1875). His grandfather was Thomas Wheeler junior (1754-1847), Apothecary to St Bartholomew's Hospital, the details of whose life are recorded in the *Dictionary of National Biography*. Thomas Rivington Wheeler was educated at St Paul's School and St Bartholomew's Hospital, and practised at his father's house, 61 Gracechurch Street, and afterwards at 3 Newcastle Court, College Hill, Cheapside. He moved later to The Grove, Blackheath, and was Surgeon to the Kent Dispensary. He contested unsuccessfully the post of Surgeon-Apothecary to St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1847, when he was beaten by Frederick Wood (qv). He was a Member of the Court of Examiners, an Examiner in Arts, and a Liveryman of the Society of Apothecaries, but was never of the Court. He took but little interest in his profession and is described as being incorrigibly idle. He was, however, a good cricketer, fly-fisher, pedestrian, and field botanist he had an excellent memory, was exceedingly clever with his fingers, but was very bad-tempered. He lived for some years at Sundridge in Kent, but moved to 5 Albion Terrace, Ramsgate, and died there on December 19th, 1883. He married his cousin Maria Wheeler in 1844, from whom he separated, as both were bad-tempered. There was one son, Thomas Henry Wheeler. T R Wheeler presented the Society of Apothecaries in 1863 with the portrait of his grandfather, Thomas Wheeler, which now hangs in their Hall.