Born in the Isle of Wight. He was apprenticed to Dr Newington in Spitalfields, and studied at Westminster and St Bartholomew's Hospitals. He practised in Camberwell in 1846, and became Medical Superintendent of Camberwell House Asylum in South-East London for the rest of his active life. He was keenly interested in medical psychology, and was one of the founders of the Medico-Psychological Association, having been its Treasurer from 1864-1895, when, on behalf of the members, the President, Dr David Nicolson, presented him with a silver bowl and an illuminated address. Together with Dr Hassan he was chief among the founders of the Royal National Hospital for Consumption at Ventnor, IW. He was also Treasurer of the St Andrews Graduates' Association, a Governor of Bethlem Hospital, and a Freemason who reached high rank. He died at The Terrace, Camberwell, SE, on January 29th, 1899, and was buried in Norbiton Cemetery. Mrs Paul predeceased her husband by three months.