Frederick Towgood

Frederick Towgood (also spelled Frederic; 5 October 1807 – 27 June 1860) was an English businessperson, writer, reformer, and activist. He advocated for temperance and vegetarianism. He also explored interests in phrenology, mesmerism, homeopathy, hydropathy, and physiology. Towgood served as president of the Anthropological Society of London, the City of London Temperance Society, and the London Vegetarian Association.

Biography

Early life and career

Frederick Towgood was born on 5 October 1807 in Russell Square, Middlesex, the son of Ann (née Gibson) and Matthew Towgood. His father, a banker, owned a paper mill in Little Paxton. After their father's death, Frederick and his brother Edward took over the company, operating under the name Towgood Bros. Towgood enjoyed a successful commercial career, before retiring in 1856.

Activism

After Towgood's retirement, he devoted himself to advancing public welfare, emphasising education, health, and moral improvement. He was an associate of William Horsell and Jabez Inwards.

Towgood was a strong proponent of vegetarianism, total abstinence from alcohol, and the avoidance of tobacco, which he regarded as crucial for personal health and moral living. He believed these practices were supported by both contemporary scientific understanding and biblical teachings. Towgood served as president of the City of London Temperance Society. He was the first treasurer of the London Band of Hope Union from 1855. He also served as president of the London Vegetarian Association until his resignation in 1857.

Other interests and contributions

Towgood had interests in phrenology, mesmerism, homeopathy, hydropathy, and physiology. He lectured on phrenology at Camden Hall in 1855 and contributed articles on the subject. Towgood served as president of the Anthropological Society of London and treasurer of the newly formed London Phrenological Society in 1856. He was also a co-editor of the Journal of Health & Phrenological Magazine in 1850 and was editor for 12 issues from 1855 to 1856.

Towgood was an admirer of the Unitarian preacher William Ellery Channing and traveled around the world, including to America.

Personal life and death

In 1845, Towgood was granted the Freedom of the City of London by patrimony, as the legitimate son of his father, who had previously been admitted to the Freedom of the City.

Towgood married Ann Napier Ross on 21 Feb 1857 at St Luke's Church, Chelsea. She died on 30 May 1860 in Hillingdon, Middlesex. Towgood died shortly after, following several weeks of illness, on 27 June 1860, also in Hillingdon, and was buried at St Margaret's Church, Uxbridge.

Selected publications

Towgood authored various works under different pseudonyms; these include:

(Anonymous) Original Views on Diet with Rules of Health and Longevity Intended for All Classes of Society with Remarks Addressed to Consumptive Patients of the Water Cure as Practised by Vincent Priessnitz of Graefenberg, Silesia, by One of Nature's School (1849)
As 'Omega,' The Coming Times (1852)
Christian Precepts
As 'Redivivus,' A Sign and Warning (1852)
Voices of the Sages, the Times, and the Ages; or, Historical Gleanings; Teaching the Way to Attain Health and Longevity, Virtue and Happiness, and Avoid Disease and Early Death, Crime and Misery (c. 1854)
Anthropology; or, the Science of Human Nature Part I (A treatise on physiology and digestion, recommended by the Weekly Despatch, 22 March 1856, p. 6)
The Life and Character of Sylvester Graham (c. 1860)