George Horspole was born in Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk, the son of John Horspole and Maria Yardy. By the age of 18 he had moved to Kingston upon Hull where he was living with his sister Elizabeth, her husband Mark Cammack and their two children. He was working as a labourer in the docks and died in an accident in July 1898. 

THE ALEXANDRA DOCK FATALITY.

The adjourned inquiry into the death of George Horspole (26), who was engaged on board the steamer Trevaunock, in the Alexandra Dock, on Friday last, when some bags of grain, which were being hoisted out of the hold, fell on his head and shoulders, was resumed yesterday at the Hull Town Hall, before the City Coroner (Colonel Thorney). Most of the evidence appeared in last night's ' Daily Mail.' The jury retired at five minutes to seven. Forty minutes later they returned with a verdict that the deceased was accidentally killed, and added that there had been gross negligence on the part of some person or persons on board the ship.