Figure 1. Microscope slide by George Daintrey, probably prepared during the 1870s. It is a dry mount of longitudinal and transverse sections of the tibia from a wild pig (Sus scrofa).
George Daintrey, 1840 - 1910
by Brian Stevenson
last updated June, 2023
Amateur microscopist George Daintrey produced high quality microscope slides, probably between 1872 and 1878, when he was a member of the Quekett Microscopical Club. Known slides have labels with his typeset name, and precise, clear handwriting (Figure 1).
Figure 1.
Microscope slide by George Daintrey, probably prepared during the 1870s. It is a dry mount of longitudinal and transverse sections of the tibia from a wild pig (Sus scrofa).
George Daintrey was born in Petworth, Sussex on April 27, 1840, and was baptized on June 18 of that year. He was named after his paternal grandfather, who was a notable lawyer in Petworth. George’s father, Arthur Daintrey, was also a lawyer. George Daintrey studied law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1866.
He appears to have moved to Brighton, Sussex, after receiving his law degree. George married Fanny Hoad in that city on May 27, 1869. Their only child, Audrey, was born that September. Shortly afterward, the Daintrey family moved to Islington, London.
George Daintrey joined the Quekett Microscopical Club on March 22, 1872. The previous week, he had presented "selected diatomaceae, section of skin of cat, polycystina” at the QMC’s Annual Soiree.
During his time in London, Daintrey formed a partnership with lawyer William G. Wheatcroft. Around 1877, Daintrey moved to Eastbourne, Sussex, where he opened a branch office of the partnership. Wheatcroft maintained the London branch.
After his move, Daintrey became involved with the Eastbourne Natural History Society. In 1877, he published “On some organisms found in and near the pond at the Waterworks”, in the Society’s Annual Report. Daintrey also ceased his membership in the QMC after moving to Eastbourne.
In November, 1878, George’s wife, Fanny, accused him of adultery and filed for divorce.
Also in late 1878, Daintrey was personally involved in a legal case. He was accused of using money from the Wheatcroft & Daintrey partnership to pay for personal expenses. During a court hearing, William Wheatcroft stated that he had “taken steps for a dissolution of partnership”.
George failed to apear in court for hearings on his divorce. Instead, he moved to New Zealand, taking the name of "(George) William Bradshaw". He worked as a teacher in several locations on the North Island. In 1881, he married Isabella Bisset.
George Daintrey "Bradshaw" died in Opuawhanga, New Zealand on 6th February 6, 1910.
Figure 2.
Longitudinal section of a wild boar tibia, prepared ca. 1870s by George Daintrey (See Figure 1). Photographed with a 3.5x objective lens and digital SLR camera, with brightfield illumination, on a Leitz Ortholux II microscope.
Figure 3.
Transverse section of a wild boar tibia, prepared ca. 1870s by George Daintrey (See Figure 1). Photographed with a 3.5x objective lens and digital SLR camera, with brightfield illumination, on a Leitz Ortholux II microscope.
Acknowledgement
Thank you to Brian Ward for providing information on Geroge Daintrey's life in New Zealand.
Resources
Baptism of George Daintrey (1840) Petworth, Sussex, accessed through ancestry.com
Daintrey, George (1877) On some organisms found in and near the pond at the Waterworks, Annual Report of the Eastbourne Natural History Society
Daintry vs. Daintry court minutes (1878) accessed through ancestry.com
England census and other records, accessed through ancestry.com
The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1872) Annual Soiree, Vol. 3, page 50
The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1872) Minutes of the meeting of March 22, Vol. 3, page 53
The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1872) Members: “Mar. 22, 1872, Daintrey, George, 48 Oakley-road, Southgate-road, N.”
The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1875) Members: “Mar. 22, 1872, Daintrey, George, 48 Oakley-road, Southgate-road, W.”
The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1878) Members: “Jan. 27, 1872, Daintrey, George, Terminus-chambers, Eastbourne”
The Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club (1880) George Daintrey not listed as a members
The Jurist (1866) “Examinations at the Incorporated Law Society … George Daintrey, who served his Clerkship to Arthur Daintrey, of Petworth”, Vol. 12, pages 51-52
The Law Times (1879) Re Wheatcroft and Daintrey (Solicitors). Solicitors in partnership-Right of a creditor of an individual member of a firm, to set off the debt against a sum due from such creditor to the firm of solicitors for professional services rendered, Vol. 67, page 27
Post Office London Directory (1875) “Daintrey, George, 43 Oakley rd., Islington N”
Post Office Sussex Directory (1878) Eastbourne “Daintrey George, Brewery cot. Old Town”, page 2981