Born 2 January 1872 at 162 York Road, Lambeth, London, SE, the third son of George Miskin, MRCS 1863, and his wife Elizabeth Mannering. His grandfather Nicholas Miskin, MRCS 1835, practised at the same address. He was educated at King's College, Strand, and St Thomas's Hospital, qualifying in 1894.

Born on 16 March 1869 at Stoneycroft, Green Lane, Liverpool, the fourth child and second son of John Edward Dickinson, owner of the Liver Block Works, Peter's Lane, Liverpool, and Elizabeth Humphreys, his wife. He was educated at the Merchant Taylor's School, Great Crosby, Liverpool and at Liverpool