William Neal was born in 1791 in the Scottish borders. He spent his initial years as a poor ploughboy, almost enslaved by the draconian Earl of Brackenholm. Rotten conditions and lack of food took many lives, so William watched his sister, mother, and father all pass away. His only salvation was the hours he had dedicated to learning to read and write. Knowledge and bravery were his only weapons when he decided to run away from Brackenholm at 15 years old and head to London. On his journey, William encountered a host of different people from bargees to drovers, learning important life lessons from each of them. When he eventually reached Paddington Basin on a barge, he had completed the hardest journey of his life. Little did he know the lessons he had learned would help him become successful beyond belief.