William Horsell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Horsell
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Photograph of William Horsell, by Maull & Polyblank, London, c. 1857
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| Born | 31 March 1807 Brinkworth, Wiltshire, England
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| Died | 23 December 1863 (aged 56) |
| Occupation | Hydrotherapist, publisher, temperance and vegetarianism activist |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Horsell |
William Horsell (born March 31, 1807 – died December 23, 1863) was an English man who helped people with special water treatments called hydrotherapy. He was also a publisher (someone who prints and sells books and magazines) and an activist. This means he worked hard to support the Temperance movement (which encouraged people to drink less alcohol) and vegetarianism (eating no meat). William Horsell is famous for publishing the very first vegan cookbook in 1849.
Contents
William Horsell's Life
Early Life and Activism
William Horsell was born in a place called Brinkworth, Wiltshire, in England. From a young age, he was interested in helping people. He became involved in the Temperance movement in 1833.
In 1838, William started a group called the Anti-Nicotine Society. This group aimed to help people stop using tobacco. A few years later, in 1842, he created the Nature's Beverage Society. This society wanted people to drink only natural beverages, like water, instead of sugary or alcoholic ones.
A Special Hospital and the Vegetarian Society
William Horsell ran a special hospital in Ramsgate. It was called a hydropathic infirmary. This means it used water treatments to help people get better. This hospital was known as the first vegetarian hospital in Britain.
In 1847, an important meeting happened at his hospital. From this meeting, the Vegetarian Society was formed. This society was created to promote and support vegetarian eating. William Horsell worked as the secretary for the Vegetarian Society for several years. By 1856, he noted that the society had grown to have a thousand members! He managed the society from his office in London.
Publishing and Ideas
William Horsell also edited a journal called Truth Tester. This journal later became the official magazine for the Vegetarian Society. It talked about vegetarianism as an important way to live a good life. In 1850, the journal changed its name to the Vegetarian Advocate.
William stepped down as secretary of the Vegetarian Society in 1850. The society's main office moved to Manchester, and a new journal took over. However, William remained active with the London branch of the Vegetarian Society.
He also published another monthly magazine called The Journal of Health & Phrenological Magazine. This magazine included articles from people like Jabez Inwards, who was interested in phrenology. Phrenology was a popular idea at the time that suggested you could learn about a person's character by feeling the bumps on their head.
William Horsell wrote a popular book about hydrotherapy. He was also a publisher for books about vegetarianism and spiritualism. Spiritualism was a belief that people could communicate with spirits. His wife, Elizabeth Horsell, was also a vegetarian.
The First Vegan Cookbook
In 1849, William Horsell published a book by Asenath Nicholson called Kitchen Philosophy for Vegetarians. This book was special because its recipes did not use butter or eggs. Because of this, the Vegan Society (a group that supports eating no animal products at all) has said that this book was the first ever vegan cookbook!
Final Mission
William Horsell sadly died on December 23, 1863. He was on a ship called the Just, traveling to Nigeria for an important mission to help stop slavery. He caught a fever and passed away. He was buried in Lagos Cemetery in West Africa.
