Background
Banks was born at Wakefield, Yorkshire, in March 1820, and received a scanty education at the Lancasterian school there.
Banks was born at Wakefield, Yorkshire, in March 1820, and received a scanty education at the Lancasterian school there.
At the age of 11 he started life as office-boy to John Berry, a local solicitor. He was later clerk in the office of Messrs. Marsden & Ianson, solicitors and clerks to the West Riding justices, and on the dissolution of the firm in 1844 he remained with Mr.
Ianson, to whom he subsequently articled himself.
Ianson & Banks. On the formation of the Wakefield Borough Commission in March 1870 he was elected clerk to the justices, an office which he retained until his death. Banks died at his house in Northgate, Wakefield, on 25 December 1872.