I am an orphan, and, as far as I know, without a relation upon earth.

My father was a respectable man, a country surgeon in Wales, and he brought me up to his own profession.

Before I had passed my examinations, however, he died and left me a small annuity.

I had conceived a great liking for the subjects of chemistry and electricity, and instead of going on with my medical work I devoted myself entirely to these studies, and eventually built myself a laboratory where I could follow out my own researches.

At about this time I came into a very large sum of money, so large as to make me feel that a vast responsibility rested upon me in the use which I made of it.