Born in St Albans, the son of a medical practitioner who was Mayor on two occasions and Alderman for more than fifty years, and of a daughter of the Rev John Nicholson, Rector of the Abbey Church. He received his professional training at Guy's Hospital, and after qualifying in 1841 joined in partner

Studied at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He then practised at 17 Artillery Place, Finsbury Square, and for twenty years was Surgeon and Accoucheur to the City of London Lying-in Hospital, City Road; Medical Officer to the Legal and Commercial Life Assurance Society; Certifying Medical Officer for Cases