Born on 26 September 1881, the fifth child and only son of John Mead, wharfinger, and Emily Clarke his wife, he was educated at Berkhamstead School and St Bartholomew's Hospital, where he won the Lawrence scholarship and served as ophthalmic house surgeon and intern midwifery assistant. After a long period as resident medical officer at St Luke's Hospital, London he settled in practice at Lowestoft, Norfolk, where he became medical officer to the convalescent home. He was a member of the Norwich Medico-Chirurgical Society. Mead married in 1909, and was survived by his wife and daughter. He died at Bryn-y-Mor, 27 Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft on 16 August 1953 aged 71. Mrs Mead died in her 93rd year in Southwold Hospital, on 8 March 1969.