Prominent WM layman, born at Helmsley, N. Yorkshire. He became a surgeon in Bridlington and married Jane Ward, the daughter of a Bridlington surgeon. From 1842 he was a lecturer on the theory and practice of medicine at the Hull School of Medicine. He made a name for himself by his opposition to the attempts of Mark Robinson of Beverley in 1825 to bring Methodism back into the Anglican fold. As a Bunting supporter, in 1834 he gave up his medical practice to become the first editor of the Watchman, but later returned to medicine in Hull.

His son, also Humphry Sandwith (1822-1881), born at Bridlington on 12 April 1822, had a varied and colourful career as army surgeon, rising to be head of the medical staff in Armenia and distinguishing himself during the siege of Kars in the Crimean War. He then abandoned medicine for the diplomatic service, serving as colonial secretary in Mauritius and Serbia and working for the relief of Christians in European Turkey. His novel Minsterborough (1876) was based on memories of his own youth. Canon Liddon described him as 'one of the most remarkable persons whom I have known in life... His work and his character were alike distinguished.' He died in Paris on 16 May 1881.

Entry written by: JAV
Category: Person
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