Early Life and Education:
– Son of David Oldfield and Margaret Bates
– Born on February 28, 1863, in Shrewsbury
– Educated at Newport Grammar School
– Graduated from University of Oxford in 1885
– Studied law and medicine
Advocacy in Vegetarianism and Fruitarianism:
– President of West London Food Reform Society
– Associated with London Vegetarian Society and Vegetarian Federal Union
– Experimented with vegetarian boots in 1895
– Advocated fruitarianism
– Member of Fruitarian Society
– Recommended a diet close to ovo-lacto vegetarianism
– Opposed slaughterhouses and vivisection
Contribution to Healthcare:
– Involved with Oriolet Hospital in 1895
– Founded Hospital of St Francis in 1897
– Senior physician at Lady Margaret Fruitarian Hospital
– Founded Margaret Manor hospital
– Advocated for anti-vivisection principles
Military and Legal Career:
– Joined Essex Regiment as Army Surgeon in 1898
– Criticized training for Regimental Medical Officers in 1913
– Served as Lieutenant-Colonel during World War I
– Awarded the Territorial Decoration
– Awarded doctorate in civil law by University of Oxford in 1901
– Founded Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishment
Personal Life and Legacy:
– Married Gertrude Hick on September 29, 1899
– Twin daughters born in 1902: Josie Margaret Oldfield and Josie Magdalen Oldfield
– Josie Magdalen Oldfield was a cradle fruitarian and medically qualified
– Oldfield’s marriage to Gertrude Hick ended in separation
– Legacy includes various publications on vegetarianism, fruitarianism, and penal reform.
Josiah Oldfield TD MRCS LRCP (28 February 1863 – 2 February 1953) was an English lawyer, physician and promoter of his own variant of fruitarianism which was virtually indistinguishable from lacto-ovo vegetarianism. He became a versatile author, a prolific writer of popular books on dietary and health topics.
Josiah Oldfield | |
---|---|
Born | Shrewsbury, England | 28 February 1863
Died | 2 February 1953 Doddington, Kent, England | (aged 89)
Occupation(s) | Physician, writer |
Spouse | Gertrude Hick
(m. 1899, separated) |
Children | 2 |