John Ernest PAUL (1867-1914)

John Ernest Paul (1867-1914) was a medical practitioner in Torquay who attended to Eugénie Sladden in 1912 when she fell ill whilst staying at The Belgrave Hotel, Torquay.

John Paul was born in Madras, India, on 5th November 1867, the son of Dr John Liston Paul and his wife, Ann Amelia.  At the time of the 1871 census, young John was living in Bedford with his siblings and mother whilst his father was still in Madras.  By 1881, the whole family was living in Paddington, London.

John followed his father into medicine.  In 1891 he was a house surgeon at North Camden College Hospital, Tottenham Court, London.  He graduated from The University of London in 1902.

John married Evelyn Boutein Buckle in 1901 in Evelyn’s home county of Yorkshire.  They made their home in Paddington where John had a medical practice.  Their son, Ian Sibbald Paul (1901-1973), was born on 11th November 1901 and baptised at Christ Church, Paddington, on 20th December 1901.  Some time between 1905 and 1910, the Paul family moved from London to Torquay in Devon; their address was Costabelle, Braddons Road East, Torquay, Devon.

In May 1912, the services of Dr Paul were called upon when Eugénie Sladden became ill whilst on holiday; he attended to her on several occasions.

Dr Paul died less than two years later, aged only 46.  He contracted pneumonia and died after three days’ illness on 14th February 1914.  His widow, Evelyn, died 40 years later in June 1954.