From G Munro Smith's History of the BRI

 

HENRY DANIEL

Henry Daniel was elected Surgeon on September 27th, 1810; he was the first aspirant to the coveted post of Surgeon to the Bristol Infirmary who could add to his name " M.R.C.S. of London." (This was the fourth time he had canvassed for a similar post, viz. in 1806, and twice in 1807. He exemplifies the fact that under the old regulations persistence in applying was generally ultimately crowned with success.)

He was born on October 7th, 1783, in the Old Park, Bristol, and was educated under Mr. Simpson, of Keynsham, and then under the Revs. Thomas and John Eden, at Upper Easton, with whom "he read Horace, Vergil, and Martial, together with Xenophon and Homer."

In January, 1800, he was made an "In-door Apprentice" to Mr. Humphrey Langley, at Wellington, in Somersetshire. The indentures were for four years, and he paid one hundred and eighty guineas. He became a pupil of Richard Smith in January, 1804 ; afterwards he studied under Abernethy and Thynne in London, and passed the Apothecaries' Hall in March, 1806.

Henry Daniel married on October 8th, 1810, Cecilia, third daughter of Mr. John James, of Lansoar, in Monmouthshire, and lived at 16 Queen Square. For some years he was in partnership with a surgeon named Frederick Granger; their profits were not great, and the partnership was ultimately dissolved.

He gradually obtained a very lucrative private practice, and lived in some style, keeping a good carriage and fine pair of horses. He is described by Mr. Alford as "a stout, good-looking, well-dressed man; rather loud and positive in expressing his opinions and laying down the law." He belonged to the "depletory" school, bleeding freely, and prescribing lowering drugs.

He resigned his post at the Infirmary on July 6th, 1836, after nearly twenty-six years' service, and died on April 19th, 1859, aged seventy-five.

He entered keenly into the social life of Bristol; was President of the Dolphin Society in 1808, and was a notable Freemason; he was member of the Society of St. Stephen's Ringers, and devoted much of his leisure to botany and the cultivation of flowers and fruit, obtaining several prizes for exhibits at the "Bristol Royal Horticultural and Botanical Society."

Elsewhere these extracts:

After a long and angry discussion, during which (according to the newspaper accounts) "Mr. Lowe expressed contempt for the Committee," and " Mr. Daniel hissed one of the Trustees."

Mr. Daniel and Mr. Lowe sent letters to the Chairman regretting their behaviour in " expressing contempt " and " hissing," and a vote of thanks to Mr. Birch for his " manly conduct " concluded the proceedings.

Wikipedia tells that in 1914 he tried to treat Coleridge's
opium addiction, but without success.