Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beal, William
BEAL, WILLIAM (1815–1870), religious writer, was born in 1815, and educated at King s College, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He took the degree of B.A. in 1841; in the same year he was ordained deacon, and he was made vicar of Brooke near Norwich in 1847. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the university of Aberdeen. He is best known as the promoter of harvest homes for country districts in 1854. At Norwich he was vice-president of the People's College, and corresponding member of the Working Men's Congregational Union. He died in 1870. He was the editor of the 'West of England Magazine' and author of the following works: 1. 'An Analysis of Palmer's Origines Liturgicæ' (1850). 2. 'The Nineveh Monuments and the Old Testament.' 3. 'A Letter to the Earl of Albemarle on Harvest Homes.' 4. 'A First Book of Chronology' (1846). He edited with a preface 'Certain godly Prayers originally appended to the Book of Common Prayer.'
[Men of the Time, 7th ed.; Brit, Mus. Cat.]