Thomas Bywater Smithies
English businessperson and publisher (1817–1883)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Bywater Smithies (27 August 1817 – 20 July 1883) was an English businessperson, publisher, editor, and campaigner for temperance and animal welfare. He founded and edited 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 |
Resting place | Abney Park Cemetery |
| Other name | T. B. S.[1] |
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| Mother | Catherine Smithies |
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Biography
Smithies was born on 27 August 1817 in York, the second of ten children of James Smithies and Catherine Smithies.[2] His mother campaigned for abolitionism, animal welfare, and temperance. Smithies converted to Methodism at the age of 15 and joined the Methodist Society.[3] The following year, he began work at the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company.[4] He also worked as a Sunday school teacher and started missionary meetings for children.[5] He became teetotal in 1837, aged 20.[4] Smithies also founded the first temperance society in York.[5]
In 1849, Smithies moved to London to become manager of the Gutta Percha Company.[4] He formed the first Band of Hope in London at the house of his friend Hannah Bevan, with some of her neighbours and children as members.[6] In 1851, he published Sunday Scholars' Friend and the Band of Hope Review (1851–1937). In 1855, he founded The British Workman, which he edited.[7] His later publications included The Infant's Magazine, The Children's Friend, The Family Friend, The Friendly Visitor, and The Weekly Welcome.[3]
In 1879, Smithies published the Band of Mercy Advocate (1879–1934), a periodical for the Bands of Mercy movement founded by his mother.[8]
Smithies died of heart disease on 20 July 1883, aged 65, after a long illness.[3][4] He was buried with his mother in Abney Park Cemetery.[9]
Publications
- Illustrated Songs and Hymns for the Little Ones (1858; under the name Uncle John)
- Illustrated Sabbath Facts; or God's Weekly Gift for the Weary. Reprinted from the "British Workman" (1869–1883)[1]
- Gleanings for the Drawing-room, in Prose and Verse (1873)
- Illustrated Anecdotes and Pithy Pieces of Prose and Verse (1874)[10]
- The Earlham Series of Tracts (1880)[11]
- The "Starlight" Temperance series (1881)