Richard Beck (1827-1866) of R. and J. Beck
c.1827 Born in London, son of Richard Low Beck, a nephew of Joseph Jackson Lister, a pioneer of the microscope.
1841 Richard Beck 45, wine merchant, lived in Stamford Hill with Rachael Beck 35, William Beck 15 Richard Beck 13, Joseph Beck 12, Rachael Beck 9, Hester Beck 6, Edmund Beck 2, Elizabeth Beck 1[1]
1843 Started an apprenticeship with James Smith
1847 Beck went into partnership with Smith.
1851 Richard Low Beck 58, wine merchant, lived in Stoke Newington with Rachael Beck 48, William Beck 27, merchant and lawyer, Sophia Beck 25, Richard Beck 23, optician, Joseph Beck 21, optician, Rachael Beck 18, Elizabeth Anna Beck 11, Ernest Beck 8[2]
1851 His brother Joseph joined the firm and was made a partner in 1857.
1860 Richard Beck, Smith, Beck and Beck, 6 Coleman Street, London.[3]
1861 Living at Pear Tree Cottage, Islington (age 33 born London), an Optician employing 40 men, and 35 boys and girls. With his wife Harriet (age 33 born Ampthill, Beds) and their children Richard (age 3 born Islington) and Harriet (age 1 born Islington). Plus three servants. [4]
1865 The firm of R. and J. Beck was established on Smith's retirement.
1866 of Pear Tree Cottage, Holloway, when he died, a microscope manufacturer, late of 404 Camden Road, Upper Holloway, and 31 Cornhill, optician; executors were his widow Harriet, brother William, architect, and Walter May of the Suffolk Iron Works, Birmingham[5]