Francis Bertram Cunningham, 1848 - 1925

by Brian Stevenson
last updated January, 2024

Despite the professional appearance of the labels on his microscope slides, “Cunningham, Preparer” was an amateur microscopist. His well-made slides are relatively scarce and duplicates are not known, supporting that conclusion. I was not able to identify any attempts by Cunningham to exchange or sell his preparations. While F.B. Cunningham was a member of the Quekett Microscopical Club from 1875 through 1883, there are no records of him exhibiting his slides or presenting at Club meetings. Instead, he appears to have been a quiet enthusiast who prepared slides for his own enjoyment.

Figure 1. ca. 1875-1883 slide of stained “cartilage”, prepared by Francis Cunningham. Other known Cunningham slides are preparations of stained histological or botanical tissues. As a wine merchant, Cunningham would not have any particular access to human tissues, but probably purchased his specimens from scientific suppliers. Sectioned and stained material was available from numerous sources in 19th century Britain..

Figure 2. Magnified detail of “cartilage” (Figure 1). Imaged with a 10x objective lens and C-mounted digital SLR camera on a Leitz Ortholux II microscope..

Other than his microscope slides, Francis Bertram Cunningham left little record of his life.

He was born on November 21, 1848, in Kennington, Surrey. He was the seventh of eight children, and the third son, of Robert and Elizabeth Cunningham. Father Robert was a “wine and spirit merchant”, an occupation that Francis and his older brothers also pursued. Robert’s business was financially very successful, as evidenced by the national censuses recording numerous live-in servants. For example, in 1861, the family was served by a governess, a cook, two housemaids, a general servant, a butler, and a page.

The father died in 1863, but left an estate of approximately £60,000 to his family. Francis and his mother moved to a home on Chepstow Place, Kensington, London. They employed two domestic servants in 1871. Francis’ occupation was listed as “wine merchant’s clerk”, presumably working in the family business.

Francis married Marian Norman Rowsell on November 16, 1876. The parish record listed his occupation as “merchant”, suggesting that he was then a full partner in the business. He had moved to 8 Durham Terrace, Westbourne Park, London, by that time.

Cunningham was elected to membership in the Quekett Microscopical Club on November 26, 1875. As noted above, there are no records of his active participation in club affairs. He was listed on the membership role in 1883, but not 1884. Presumably, his microscope slides date from that period.

The only other record that I identified on Francis Cunningham’s life was this criminal sentencing, “Richard Oakley (21), and Charles Richards (20), to burglary in the house of Francis Bertram Cunningham, and stealing a paper-knife, a spoon, and four postage labels, his goods; Oakley having been convicted at Southwark Police-court on January 31st, 1893.— Six Months' Hard Labour each.”

Francis Bertram Cunningham died on February 17, 1925, while on holiday at Saint Leonards-on-Sea.

Resources

Boyle's Court and Country Guide (1867) “Cunningham, Mrs. 65 Chepstow-pl. Bayswater, W."

Boyle's Court and Country Guide (1873) “Cunningham, Mrs. 65 Chepstow-pl. Bayswater, W."

Boyle's Court and Country Guide (1880) “Cunningham, F. Esq. 8 Durham-ter. Westbourne-pk. W."

Bracegirdle, Brian (1998) Microscopical Mounts and Mounters, Quekett Microscopical Club, London, pages 26 and 128, Plate 12-F

England census and other records, accessed through ancestry.com

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1876) Members: “Nov. 26, 1875, Cunningham, Francis Bertram, 65 Chepstow-place, Bayswater, W."

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1877) Members: “Nov. 26, 1875, Cunningham, Francis Bertram, 8 Durham-terrace, Westbourne-park, W."

Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1883) Members: “Nov. 26, 1875, Cunningham, F.B., 8 Durham terrace, Westbourne park, W."

Probate of the will of F.B. Cunningham (1925) “Cunningham Francis Bertram of 6 Albany-road Bexhill Sussex died 17 February 1925 at 113 Marine St Leonards-on-Sea Probate London 31 March to Frances Rowsell Cunningham secretary and Betram Stephan Rowsell Cunningham solicitors. Effects £2514 4s”, accessed through ancestery.com

Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1893) https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18950128-221, accessed January, 2024