Born at Shawford, Som. On 16 October 1877, into a farming family, he attended Bradford-on-Avon Grammar School, but also from an early age experienced the hardships of life on the land. Despite his father's failure as a farmer, he and his brother Joshua had a highly successful career in dairy farming, based on the open-air system known as 'the Hosier system'. This involved the invention of a mobile milking 'bail' that could be used in the open fields. It was widely adopted in the southern counties. His engineering experience also gave him a useful knowledge of well-boring and resulted in a number of inventions, such as the first side-rake and a mechanical milk filter.

In 1920 he and his brother bought the 1700-acre Wexcombe estate, adding to it a 1500-acre farm at Brunton in 1929. His pioneering ventures were recognised by the award of an OBE in 1949 and by an honorary LLD from Cambridge University in 1951. He was a Methodistlocal preacher. He died at Wexcombe on 3 April 1963.

Category: Person
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