Studied at High School, Liverpool. Edinburgh University. Studied medicine for three years.
Compelled by ill-health to give it up. Sublibrarian, Liverpool Library. Librarian of Leeds Library.
Engaged in journalism in connection with Leeds Mercury and Yorkshire Post. 1st librarian, Gladstone Library, 1887.
Career
Founded The Library, 1889. Honourable Secretary Library Association, 18S7-98, in which year he obtained for it a Royal Charter. Promoted Consolidating and Amending Library Act, 1892.
And others since then. Chairman of Editing Committee of 7th International Congress of Hygiene. Honourable Secretary General and Organiser of the 2nd Internat.
Library Conference, 1897. Commissioner for Paris Exposition, 1900. Member of Committee of International Congress on Tuberculosis, 1901.
In 1905 formulated scheme for amalgamating the Medical Societies of London.which was adopted by the seventeen principal societies. Member of Committee of Japan Exhibition, London, 1910. Founded the University of London Press, 1910, first Chairman.