Matthew Smyth (principal)
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Matthew Smyth (died 6 February 1547 or 1548) was the first Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford.[1]
Matthew Smyth or Smith was born in Lancaster.[2] One of his contemporary relations, Gilbert Smith, held the Archdeaconry of Peterborough.[3] Matthew Smith began his Bachelor of Arts degree at Oxford (Oriel College) in 1501;[4] he was a Fellow of Oriel from 1506 to 1512. Ralph Churton said that Smith is frequently documented as a regent Master from 1509 onward.[4] In 1545, he was named Bachelor of Divinity.[4]
Brasenose
Smith then became Principal of Brasenose Hall on 24 August 1510. He remained so until his death in 1547/8, serving during the foundation of Brasenose as a College.[1][5] He was recorded as the "Principal of the College and Hall of Brasen Nose" in 1514.[6] (One other former Principal of Brasenose Hall, John Formby, held a similar title during the transition period.)[7][8] Falconer Madan, a Fellow of Brasenose and later Librarian of Bodleian Library, suggested in a 1909 "Quatercentenary" reflection that the continuity established by Smith proceeding from the administration of Brasenose Hall to presiding over Brasenose College is unique among other Oxford colleges.[8]
As Principal, Smith presided over a college of twelve Fellows, six senior and six junior (including a Vice-Principal and Bursar), as well as 60 or 70 students.[7] His responsibilities included providing surety for university students committing infractions, as recorded in the Registrum Cancellarii for a student named "Hastyngs" in August 1512.[1] During this time, Smith also received various preferments for positions in the Anglican Church.[9]
Sources conflict on whether William Smyth, a co-founder of Brasenose College, was definitely related to Matthew Smith/Smyth and therefore granted him the position through nepotism.[10][1][11] Churton wrote in an 1800 biography of William Smyth:
Matthew Smyth, the first Principal of Brasen Nose college, is intitled[sic] to a place here by his personal merits and probable kin to the Founder, though none of the pedigrees of the family, which I have seen, acknowledge him; not have I been able, from any other quarter, fully to authenticate the fact.[4]
