Educated at the London Hospital. He used to relate that at his examination for the MRCS, Lawrence of St Bartholomew's questioned him, and when his reply did not satisfy Lawrence, Blizard intervened, and said the candidate's reply was quite in accord with the practice at the London Hospital. Thereupon an animated discussion ensued, after which Ceely had no further questions put to him, and passed. He settled in practice at Aylesbury with his elder brother, Robert (qv). He acted as Surgeon to the Buckinghamshire County Infirmary at Aylesbury, from its opening in 1832 until 1882, and during that period performed twenty-six lateral lithotomies without a failure or death. He was also Surgeon to the Buckinghamshire County Constabulary, to the Aylesbury Prison, and to the 1st Battalion of the Buckinghamshire Volunteers. He died in retirement at 54 Tregunter Road, London, SW, in his 96th year on December 25th, 1905. There is a portrait of him taken more than twenty years previously in the Fellows' Album.