Summary
Thomas Bywater Smithies (27 August 1817 – 20 July 1883) was an English radical publisher and campaigner for temperance and animal welfare. He was the founder and editor of the broadsheet periodical The British Workman.
Thomas Bywater Smithies | |
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| Born | 27 August 1817 York, England |
| Died | 20 July 1883 (aged 65) London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Editor, publisher, campaigner |
| Parent |
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Biography edit
Smithies was born in York, to James and Catherine Smithies, the second of ten children.[1] His mother was a campaigner for abolitionism, animal welfare and temperance. He was converted to Methodism at age 15, joining the Methodist Society.[2] The following year, he started work at the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company,[3] where he worked for 18 years, while also working as a Sunday school teacher.[2] He became teetotal in 1837, aged 20.[3]
In 1849, Smithies moved to London to become the manager of the Gutta Percha Company.[3] The first "Band of Hope" in London was formed at Hannah Bevan's house and it included some of her neighbours and children.[4] In 1851, he published Sunday Scholars' Friend and the Band of Hope Review (1851–1937). This was followed by The British Workman in 1855; edited by Smithies.[5] Subsequent publications included The Infant's Magazine, The Children's Friend, The Family Friend, The Friendly Visitor, and The Weekly Welcome.[2]
In 1879, he published the Band of Mercy Advocate (1879–1934), a periodical for the Bands of Mercy movement, which was founded by his mother.[6]
On 20 July 1883, after a period of long illness, Smithies died of heart disease, aged 67.[2][3] He was buried with his mother in Abney Park Cemetery.[7]
References edit
- ^ "Smithies, Thomas Bywater (1817–1883), campaigner for temperance and for animal welfare campaigner for animal welfare". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/74113. Retrieved 22 June 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d Stevenson, George John (1884). Methodist Worthies: Characteristic Sketches of Methodist Preachers of the Several Denominations, with Historical Sketch of Each Connexion. London: T. C. Jack. pp. 588–591.
- ^ a b c d "SMITHIES, Thomas Bywater (Editor, "British Workman")". BLT19: 19th-Century Business, Labour, Temperance, & Trade Periodicals. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Phillips, Amanda (23 September 2004). "Bevan [née Bennett], Hannah Marishall (1798–1874), philanthropist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/45524. Retrieved 31 July 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "British Workman magazine". Archives Hub. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Animals". BLT19: 19th-Century Business, Labour, Temperance, & Trade Periodicals. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Pinching, Albert (9 June 2019). "Wood Green's Obelisk". Hornsey Historical Society. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
Further reading edit
- T. B. Smithies: Editor of "The British workman": A Memoir (1884) by George Stringer Rowe