Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Poste, Beale
POSTE, BEALE (1793–1871), divine and antiquary, of an ancient Kentish family, was second son of William Poste, one of the four common pleaders of the city of London. Born in 1793 at Hayle Place, his father's seat near Maidstone, Kent, he entered Trinity Hall, Cambridge (Luard,Grad. Cant. p. 416), but left the university at an early age, travelled on the continent, returned, took holy orders, and married (in 1817) before graduating LL.B. in 1819. He was for some years curate of High Halden, and then of Milstead, both in Kent. At Milstead he devoted himself to the study of archæology. He was one of the earliest members of the Archaeological Association, and many papers from his pen appeared in their 'Journal.' He removed about 1851 to Bydews Place, near Maidstone, where he died on 15 April 1871. By his wife Mary Jane, daughter of John Cousins, esq., of Westbourne, Sussex, who died two years before her husband, he had three sons and four daughters. His third son, Edward, is director of civil service examinations.
His works, dealing principally with early British history, evidence the most painstaking research. They are: 1. 'History of the College of All Saints,' Maidstone, 1847, 8vo. 2. 'The Coins of Cunobeline and of the Ancient Britons,' 1853, 8vo. 3. 'Britannic Researches, or New Facts and Rectifications of Ancient British History,' 1853, 8vo. 4. 'Britannia Antiqua: Ancient Britain brought within the Limits of Authentic History,' 1857, 8vo. 5. 'Celtic Inscriptions on Gaulish and British Coins, intended to supply Materials for the Early History of Great Britain; with a Glossary of Archaic Celtic Words and an Atlas of Coins,' 1861, 8vo.
[Berry's Kent Pedigrees, p. 20; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Guardian. 1871, p. 491; Athenæum for 1853, 1857, 1861; Foster's Alumni Oxon.]