Charles Rattray Smith

Charles Rattray Smith was born on 29 December 1859 in the Congregational Manse for the Parish of Rendall, Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland where his father, Alexander Smith, was the Congregational Minister; his mother was Clementina née Cobban.^[4][5]

He attended Aberdeen University and was graduated M.A. in 1880.^[5][6]

Smith returned to Orkney as a schoolmaster: the 1881 Census finds him living in the Stronsay Schoolhouse with one of his elder sisters, Frances, as his housekeeper.^[7]

In 1883, he emigrated to New South Wales to take up his career as a teacher in public schools. His first appointment was as assistant teacher, Bathurst High School on its opening in October 1883 but soon after took up his first of three appointments at Sydney Boys High School. From March 1885, he acted as temporary headmaster of Goulburn High. Other appointments followed including to Fort-street Model School and Leichhardt Superior Public School, where he was first assistant master from 1897. In 1902, he returned to Sydney Boys High School as classics master under J. Waterhouse.^[2][3]

He was tasked with the establishment of the new High School at Newcastle in 1906. He led the "School on the Hill" until 1915.^[8][9]

One of the school houses is named "Smith" in his honour.^[10]

He became Headmaster, North Sydney Boys High in 1915,^[1] the second to hold the post, succeeding Nimrod Greenwood.^[11] When he arrived, he brought the nickname "Caesar" with him from Newcastle.^[11] The history of the early years of North Sydney Boys' High described him as a disciplinarian who favoured detention and would travel the classrooms in the afternoon in academic cap and gown announcing the names of those who would join him for an extra half-hour after school; nevertheless, he was described as "a man of great personal charm and is still remembered with affection by those who were at North Sydney during his time."^[11]

Following the sudden death of Robert John Hinder,^[12] Smith returned to Sydney High School (Mary Ann Street, Ultimo) in his final appointment as headmaster. He was introduced to the students at the 1918 Speech Day, where he received three cheers.^[13]