Born 30 October 1857 at Penyfai, Bridgend, Glamorgan the fifth of the six sons and tenth of the twelve children of Griffith Powell, farmer, and Ann Jenkins, his wife. He was educated privately at Bridgend and at Mumbles near Swansea, and took his medical training at the Westminster Hospital. He won

Born at Blackburn on 21 January 1866, the second child and eldest son of Thomas Firth, cotton spinner and manufacturer, and Betty Fielden Lacy, his wife. He was educated privately and at Owens College, Manchester, before beginning his medical training at King's College and University College Hospita