My Ain Folk says:


William was a bright and promising young man, but disappointing in later life. He studied medicine at the University of Cambridge but failed examinations, had an unhappy marriage and saddened his father by becoming an atheist.

Biolgraphical History of Gonville and Caius College 1349-1897 says:


Thurtell, William Ellis: son of Rev Alexander Thurtell, rector of Oxburgh, Norf., formerly fellow of the college. Born and baptized at Oxburgh. School, Clifton College. Age 18. Admitted Oct 1, 1874. B.A. 1878: M.A. 1881. Residence (1895), Mayfield, Sussex.

⬩ ⬩ ⬩ ⬩ ⬩

After his divorce, William is recorded as taking photographs of a farming project in Patagonia, Argentina. Cambridge Uni Alumni 1261-1900 says William was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn 28 Jan 1898 and later sometime a bookseller and journalist at Chubut, Argentina. It confirms year of death as 1923. The London Gazette of 14 June 1878 says that Second Lieutenant William Ellis Thurtell resigned his commission in the 3rd Middlesex Artillery Volunteer Corps.