an English religious writer. William Beal was born in Sheffield, the son of William Beal, a Wesleyan minister. He was educated at King's College London, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1841. In the same year he was ordained deacon. Headmaster of Tavistock Grammar School from 1837 to 1847, 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 was the editor of the West of England Magazine.
