He was born in Reading, the son of George Palmer and his wife, Elizabeth Sarah, the daughter of Robert Meteyard.
Palmer spent over fifty years working for the Huntley & Palmers biscuit company, chiefly as the head of the engineering department where he was responsible for the building and maintenance of the biscuit machinery.
[1] Besides his business involvement, Palmer was a significant benefactor of the University of Reading,[2] and held the position in 1905 of High Sheriff of Berkshire.
Palmer was an award winning breeder of Galloway cattle at Wokefield.
[6][7] [8] Palmer purchased the property in 1901,[9] then at his death, it was sold in 1936 to the De La Salle Catholic Brothers for use as a school.