Gull was born on 6 January 1860, the third child of the leading 19th century physician
Sir William Withey Gull and his wife Susan Gull. His elder siblings were Caroline Cameron Gull (born 1851) and Cameron Gull (born 1858, died in infancy). At the time of his birth, his father had a home-based practice at 8
Finsbury Square, London. A year later, the family moved to a new home at 74
Brook Street, in London's
Mayfair district. William was educated at
Eton College and later studied law at
Christ Church,
Oxford, winning the
Vinerian Scholarship in 1883. When his father died in 1890, Gull and his family lived at Gloucester Street, off
Portman Square. William Gull was named as one of the executors of his father's will. He inherited the sum of £40,000 and all his father's real estate, which included the house in Mayfair and a house in Scotland. He also inherited his father's title, becoming 2nd Baronet. == Barrister and Member of Parliament ==