G. Cosens Prior
George Cosens Prior was an English solicitor and social reformer. Based in Portsmouth, he headed one of the city's oldest law firms, acted as solicitor to several trusts, and maintained a large private practice; he also worked as a notary public. Alongside his legal career he served as minister at Portsmouth High-Street Unitarian Church. Prior was active in the temperance movement for many years and served as president of the Portsmouth Gospel Temperance Union. He adopted vegetarianism in 1889 on ethical grounds, became president of the Portsmouth Vegetarian Society, and frequently lectured on vegetarianism. He served as chairman of the committee of the Vegetarian Federal Union and as honorary solicitor for the Order of the Golden Age from 1901 to 1903. In 1904, after declaring bankruptcy, he was convicted of misappropriating client funds and sentenced to five years' penal servitude.
Biography
Early life
George Cosens Prior was born in Chichester in the final quarter of 1855. His parents were John Woods Prior, who founded the family's wool-stapling business in Chichester, and Amelia.Legal and religious work
Prior headed one of the oldest law firms in Portsmouth, acted as solicitor to several prominent trusts, and maintained a large private practice. He also worked as a notary public and served as minister at Portsmouth High-Street Unitarian Church.Temperance and vegetarianism
Prior was active in the temperance movement for many years and served as president of the Portsmouth Gospel Temperance Union.In 1889, Prior adopted vegetarianism in 1889 on ethical grounds. He became active in the Portsmouth Vegetarian Society and served as its president and he frequently lectured on vegetarianism. He also served as chairman of the committee of the Vegetarian Federal Union. From 1901 to 1903, he acted as honorary solicitor for the Order of the Golden Age.
Criminal charges
In 1904, Prior was charged with misappropriating client funds in the course of bankruptcy proceedings. He was convicted and sentenced to five years' penal servitude.Conviction
Prior married Clara Gertrude Wilkin on 4 March 1880 at the parish church of Gaywood, King's Lynn. She was a vegetarian; the couple raised nine vegetarian children. Clara died in 1918, aged 67.Prior died in Brentford, Middlesex, aged 81, in the second quarter of 1937. He was buried at Ealing and Old Brentford Cemetery on 15 April.