robert william felkin was born in beeston, nottinghamshire, on 13 march 1853, the son of robert felkin (1828-1899), a nonconformist lace manufacturer. his grandfather, william felkin (1795-1874), son of a baptist minister, remains one of the best known names in the victorian lace industry and was mayor of nottingham in 1851, when he exhibited at the great exhibition. but he overreached, and the business failed disastrously in 1864, when felkin retired to write standard works on the lace and hosiery trades. his son and partner robert felkin sr settled in wolverhampton to take up a position as manager of the home department of mander brothers, varnish manufacturers. robert jr was educated at wolverhampton grammar school, where he met the explorer david livingstone, who inspired him to become a medical missionary.