George Ward Challis was born on 11th November 1842 and was the third son (and fourth child) of Henry Williams Challis who held a senior position at the Bank of England.

Bank of England records indicate that George attended Merchant Taylors’ School for a short time and then a private grammar school at Clapham. After working in the Counting House of Messrs Samuel Dobree & Sons of Tokenhouse Yard he joined the Bank of England in February 1861 (see other Note) but remained in their employ only until September 1862.

In 1865 he married Anne Bertha Bonorandi who had four of his children. While Anne was carrying his fourth child in 1873 he evidently struck up a relationship with Esther Eliza Maple who was ten years younger than him and who gave birth to a son only a few months after Anne’s fourth child was born. They went on to have 4 more children.

Entries in the London Gazette suggest that he may have been more than a run-of-the-mill accountant.

In 1866, as Chairman of the Metropolitan Parcels Delivery Company Ltd (probably a non-executive position) he was appointed one of the liquidators in the company's winding up but somebody else was appointed as accountant to assist the liquidators (perhaps to avoid conflict of interests). He is described as a merchant. His address is given as 69 Lombard Street.
[ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23097/pages/2267/page.pdf ]

A reference to an 1872 deed exists. This appears to relate to going into partnership with John Joseph Leonard Cridland.
[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=074-qul_2&cid=-1#-1 ]

In 1874 he was admitted to the freedom of the City of London.

In 1875/6, three separate bankruptcies where George was appointed Trustee of the property of the debtors. His address was given as 12 St Clement's Lane, Lombard Street. and he is described as accountant.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24210/pages/2768/page.pdf
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24332/pages/3354/page.pdf
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24366/pages/5195/page.pdf

St Clement's Lane in now simply Clements Lane. This address and the Lombard Street address were presumably business addresses.

It is understood that he may have been in line to become Lord Mayor of London until he blotted his copybook with Esther! The Lord Mayor in 1852-3 was Thomas Challis but I have not established any connection.

He appears to have omitted himself from the 1881 Census, perhaps to avoid embarrassment/scandal over his private life. However, in the 1891 and 1901 censuses he is head of household with Esther and children. In 1901 Esther’s entry for ‘Relation to head of family’ is shown as ‘As wife’.