Born at Paignton, Torquay, South Devon on 15 October 1863, the eldest son of William Henry Stabb and Ellen Curling, his wife. He was educated by a private tutor before entering St Thomas's Hospital Medical School in 1882. Here he won the prosector's prize in anatomy in 1883-84, was runner up for the first College prize in 1884, and was considered brilliant and hard-working. He served as junior demonstrator of anatomy and as demonstrator of practical surgery, and was prosector at the Royal College of Surgeons. After qualification he served various offices at St Thomas's Hospital, being resident assistant surgeon to out-patients 1886-87, resident accoucheur 1888-89, assistant house surgeon, house surgeon, clinical assistant in the throat and ear departments, chief assistant in the throat department, resident assistant surgeon 1891, and surgical registrar 1891. He was then senior resident medical officer at the Royal Free Hospital, clinical assistant at the Evelina Hospital for Children, and surgeon to out-patients at the Great Northern Central Hospital. He practised at 57 Queen Anne Street, W, and retired to South Hill, Kingskerswell, Newton Abbot, Devon. During the war he served at Aldershot, at Epsom, and at the Manor (County of London) War Hospital, with a commission as temporary major, RAMC, dated 20 March 1917. Stabb married on 30 July 1901 Emma Langworthy Froude, who survived him with one son, a flight-lieutenant (1942) in the Royal Air Force. He died at Mount Scylla, Cadewell Lane, Shiphay, Torquay on 19 December 1941, aged 78.