Thomas Bywater Smithies
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 British Workman.
Thomas Bywater Smithies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 August 1817 York, England |
| Died | 20 July 1883 (aged 65) London, England |
| Occupation | Editor, publisher, campaigner |
| Parent(s) |
|
Life and work
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]
Death
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
- "Smithies, Thomas Bywater (1817–1883), campaigner for temperance and for animal welfare campaigner for animal welfare". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- 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.
- "SMITHIES, Thomas Bywater (Editor, "British Workman")". BLT19: 19th-Century Business, Labour, Temperance, & Trade Periodicals. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- Phillips, Amanda (2004-09-23). "Bevan [née Bennett], Hannah Marishall (1798–1874), philanthropist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/45524. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- "British Workman magazine". Archives Hub. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- "Animals". BLT19: 19th-Century Business, Labour, Temperance, & Trade Periodicals. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- Pinching, Albert. "Wood Green's Obelisk". Hornsey Historical Society. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
Further reading
- T. B. Smithies: Editor of "The British workman": A Memoir (1884) by George Stringer Rowe
