Pioneer ear surgeon and father of economic historian Arnold Toynbee (1852-1883). Born Lincolnshire. From Museum of Wimbledon: "...settled in Wimbledon in 1854 and lived at Beech Holme along Parkside, at the junction with Somerset Road" and was very active in local Wimbledon life. His Parkside home, 49, is now a medical clinic and has a blue plaque (not yet collected) for Joseph and Arnold.
Died at his home in Savile Row from the hydrocyanic acid and chloroform that he was using in his search for a cure for tinnitus.
2023: Great-great-grandfather of journalist Polly Toynbee who wrote: "He was a radical local campaigner who fought to save Wimbledon Common from the rapacious Earl Spencer’s attempt to privatise and enclose it. He set up the Wimbledon Village Club, a working men’s institute for edification, entertainment, refreshments and a library, in much community use now. Family history records that his rigorous selflessness included dragging his nine children across Wimbledon Common on Christmas Day to make them donate their Christmas dinner to a Travellers’ encampment."
