Came of an Oxford family, and was probably born in Oxford in the year 1802. His brother, George Parsons Hester, was a solicitor and was for many years Town Clerk of Oxford. James was a student at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He was admitted 'Chirurgus Privilegiatus' of the University of Oxford in June

The son of John Symonds, a surgeon-apothecary of Oxford. He came of a medical stock, and was the sixth generation of a line of doctors. He was educated at Christ's Hospital - the Bluecoat School - in London, and was apprenticed to his father at Oxford. Whilst still an apprentice he was Assistant Apo

Professionally educated at St George's Hospital. He practised first at Stockport, where he was Surgeon to the Infirmary Fever Wards and to the Queen's Lying-in Institute. At the latter institution he lectured on midwifery and the diseases of women and children. Removing to Poole, he was at the time