lvii 



LIONEL SMITH BEALE, 1828—1906. 



Lionel Beale was born in the year 1828, in the parish of St. Paul's, Covent 

 Garden. His father was a surgeon, and was one of the earliest Officers of 

 Health in London. While a medical student at King's College, Lionel 

 Beale showed talent as well as industry, particularly in the study of 

 chemistry and anatomy ; and before he had taken his degree he was invited 

 by Professor Acland to take the part of anatomical assistant in the Natural 

 Science School at Oxford. He remained there for two years, when he 

 returned to King's College, and was succeeded by Victor Carus, of Leipzig. 

 In 1852 Beale established a laboratory where he taught " the use of the 

 microscope," and gave courses of instruction in physiological chemistry, and 

 minute anatomy, normal and morbid. In 1853 he was appointed Professor 

 of Physiology in King's College, Huxley being one of the candidates. 



During these early years of his scientific life, Beale received guidance 

 and help from Dr. Todd, Mr. Bowman, and Mr. Sambrooke. Between 1851 

 and 1858 he seems to have published nearly one hundred papers, most of 

 them illustrated by his own skilful hand. 



In 1859 he married Prances, only daughter of the Kev. Peyton 

 Blakiston, M.D., F.K.S., and took the lease of 61, Grosvenor Street, which 

 he retained until 1904. In a small greenhouse, and on a flat roof at the 

 back of this house, he, for many years, grew orchids, ferns, and bulbs with 

 skill and success. In the year 1882 he found it necessary to live in the 

 country on account of his wife's health, and took a small cottage in a pine 

 wood at Weybridge, travelling to and from London daily. His garden 

 became well known amongst those interested in this pursuit, for he grew 

 successfully palms, Japanese plants, and bulbs. One of his friends there 

 was the late Mr. G. F. Wilson, whose wild garden at Wisley has now come 

 into possession of the Boyal Horticultural Society. 



In 1892 his wife died at Weybridge, and this loss and the constant 

 fatigue of railway-travelling began to affect his health. In 1896 he had 

 an attack of apoplexy, which laid him up for several weeks — his first serious 

 illness. In the year 1904 he returned to London to live with his son and 

 daughter-in-law in Bentinck Street, where his general health markedly 

 improved, although senile changes became more evident. In March, 1906, 

 he had another attack of cerebral haemorrhage. He became unconscious 

 on the next day, and passed peacefully away on the 28th. He was then 

 78 years old. He was buried in Weybridge Cemetery, as was his wish, 

 and in the presence of his near relations and a few of his oldest friends. 

 One of his sisters, Miss Sophia Beale, survives him, well known for her 

 sketches at home and abroad ; and he leaves one son, Mr. Peyton Beale, 

 F.K.C.S. 



