Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845

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Canon of St. Paul's; essayist and wit.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [Paris], to Admiral Sir Sidney Smith, [no year]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270663579

Canon of St. Paul's.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Archibald Allison, [no year] Jan. 4. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270872261

English divine and author.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : C[ombe], Florey, Taunton, to Mr. Kinglake, solicitor of Taunton, 1829 Sept. 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270662391

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [Taunton], to the Lord Advocate [Sir John Archibald Murray], 1838 Aug. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270663781

From the description of Autograph letter signed : C[ombe], Florey, Taunton, to the Bishop of London [Charles Blomfield], 1837 Jan. 31. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270662387

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Royal Hotel [London?], to Mrs. Pennington, 1839 Sept. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270663723

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [London], to Lady Canning, 1836 July 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270663282

Priest in the Church of England.

From the description of Sydney Smith papers, 1809-1843. (Rice University). WorldCat record id: 28499321

Sydney Smith was born on June 3, 1771 at Woodford, Essex. His early childhood was an unhappy one due to his tyrannical father, Robert Smith (1739-1827). His mother, Maria Olier (1750-1801), suffered from epilepsy. Smith had three brothers and a sister; his elder brother, Robert Percy Smith (Bobus) was to be a major influence.

Smith entered Winchester College at the age of 11 under the headmaster, Joseph Warton. These were difficult years owing to the school’s state of decline, poor food and bullying. In 1789, Smith entered New College, Oxford, received his bachelor’s degree in 1792 and was ordained a Deacon in 1794. He spent two years as curate of the parish of Netheravon on Salisbury Plain and on his return to Oxford in 1796, took Priest’s orders.

He arrived in Edinburgh while traveling with Michael Hicks-Beach as his private tutor and it was there he met three young Whigs: Henry Brougham, Francis Horner, and Francis Jeffrey. While in their company, the idea of starting a literary review was suggested and the first issue of the Edinburgh Review came out on October 10,1802. The Edinburgh Review was a quarterly magazine and the owners favored the Whigs in Parliament and favored political reform. Smith married Catharine Amelia Pybus (1768-1852) during this period and they had five children. Smith’s eldest son, Douglas, was to die at the age of twenty-four; his daughter, Saba, became the second wife of Henry Holland (1788-1873), physician-in-ordinary to Queen Victoria. Saba Holland’s memoir of her father was published in 1855.

Smith settled in London in 1803 and stayed until 1809. His brother, Bobus, introduced him to Holland House (a center of Whig power and influence) and Smith quickly became known as one of the Holland House wits. He also became a popular preacher and it was during this period that Smith authored ten short pamphlets, published as Peter Plymley’s Letters – on the subject of Catholic emancipation. Although published anonymously, authorship became widely known.

Smith moved to Yorkshire in 1809, acting as magistrate and village doctor. One of the few Yorkshire clergy Smith became familiar with was Francis Wrangham (1769-1842). Like Smith, Wrangham was interested in parochial improvements and was in favor of the Catholic emancipation. Their friendship began with an exchange of printed sermons and soon evolved from these courtesies to more serious discussions of their work.

Smith moved to a parish in Somerset (1829) and was later given a canonry at St. Paul's, London in 1831. His failure to secure a bishopric was a disappointment to him, but life in London proved happy and sociable with Smith meeting many leading literary figures, including Charles Dickens.

By 1843, Smith’s health had declined, gout being a primary ailment. In October, 1844 he suffered a heart attack and later died on February 22, 1845.

Francis Wrangham (1769-1842) was a prolific writer, scholar, and Church of England clergyman. Wrangham was also an early supporter of Catholic emancipation. Educated at Cambridge, he was ordained in 1793. He became Archdeacon of Cleveland (1820) and later Archdeacon of East Riding (1828). He was also known as a collector of a large and important library. Wrangham died on December 27, 1842.

Resources:

Bell, Alan. Sydney Smith. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980.

Smith, Sydney. A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1855.

From the guide to the Sydney Smith papers MS 242., 1809-1843, (Woodson Research Center, )

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Foston, Yorks., to Benjamin Agar , 1822 July 13 and 1823 May 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Dickinson Family. Dickinson family library. 1810-1943. Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.] and Taunton, Som., to "Bobus" [his brother, Robert Percy Smith], 1819 Mar. 27 and 1842 July 24. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Mr. Hardwicke, 1838 June 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Foston, Yorks., to Captain Hall, 1824 Mar. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Papers of Jane Porter [manuscript], 1840, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Murchison, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Bigelow, John P. (John Prescott), 1797-1872. Papers, 1805-1896 (bulk 1814-1863) Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Taunton, Som., to Mr. Goren, 1837 Jan. 26. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Combe Florey, Som., to A. Hayward, 1843 Dec. 11. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Royal Hotel [London?], to Mrs. Pennington, 1839 Sept. 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Papers of Daniel and Caroline Webster, 1822-1839. Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Mrs. Beach [ca. 1798-99]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845,. Autograph letters from Sydney Smith to [Frances Anne] Kemble [manuscript], [1837?-1843?]. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (2) : London and [n.p.], to Lady Holland, 1834 Nov. 28 and 1844 Nov. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. A Conciliatory speech to the people assembled in the market place : manuscript : [n.p., n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [Paris], to Admiral Sir Sidney Smith, [no year]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 1806-1861. Autograph letter signed : [London], to Richard Hengist Horne, 1843 Dec. 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter : [York], to Mrs. Fletcher, [1827 Mar. 24]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Prescott, William Hickling, 1796-1859. Autograph letter signed : Boston, to Charles Dickens, 1842 Dec. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Taunton, Som., to Lady Charlotte [Burry], 1831 Dec. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Lady Lethbridge, 1836 Sept. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Maria Smith, 1805 Sept. 9 and 1807 Dec. 24. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to William Ponsonby, 1824 June 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Brooks, Phillips, 1835-1893. Autographed letters and portraits of theologians from the United States and England [manuscript] 1805-1939 (inclusive). University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Letter, 1843 Jun. 2 [London] to Dr. [S.G.] Howe [London]. University of Michigan
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : C[ombe], Florey, Taunton, to the Bishop of London [Charles Blomfield], 1837 Jan. 31. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn English literature mss., 1851-1900 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (5) : London, to the Bp. of London [William Howley], 1837 Mar. 17-1838 Jan. 13 and [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf French, Carol. [Culinary ephemera : condiments]. Box 77. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (2) : Taunton, Som., to "My dear John", 1835 Dec. 18 and 1839 Oct. 18. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to an unidentified recipient, 1840 May 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Mrs. Crome, 1838 Nov. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Sydney Smith papers MS 242., 1809-1843 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Taunton, Som., to Emily Holland, 1843 Aug. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [London], to George Tierney, 1828 Dec. 5. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [Taunton], to the Lord Advocate [Sir John Archibald Murray], 1838 Aug. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [London], to Mrs. Longman, [1833 Nov. 11]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [London], to [Francis] Jeffrey, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : C[ombe], Florey, Taunton, to Mr. Kinglake, solicitor of Taunton, 1829 Sept. 11. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to the Rev. Turner, 1841 June 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Mrs. Procter, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Fuller, B. A. G., 1879-1956. Autograph collection, 1620-1920 Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Taunton, Som., to Lord Ashburton, 1840 Aug. 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to the Rev. [William Lisle] Bowles, [1826 May 24]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Foston, Yorks., to Daniel O'Connell, 1826 Jan. 24. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Miss Elliot, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Letter to Samuel Rogers, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Archibald Allison, [no year] Jan. 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to an unidentified recipient, 1794 Dec. 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Sydney Smith collection, 1812-1843. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Hemenway, Amy. Collection of autographs, 1791-1873 Houghton Library
referencedIn Sheridan family papers, 1693-1917 (bulk: 1762-1917). Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Miss Gratham, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Albert Stephens Borgman autograph collection, 1600-1950. Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (3) : various places, to Lord John Russell, 1826 Dec. 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Frankland, Lady. Recipe book. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Lady Farquahar, 1830 May 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Letter to L. Longmans. London, Eng. 1938 Apr. 25. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (10) : Foston, Yorks. and London, to Cecil Smith, 1826 Aug. 6-1843 July 23. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Miss Beach, [1804 June 4]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Howe family papers, 1819-1910. Houghton Library
creatorOf Moore, Thomas, 1779-1852. Thomas Moore manuscript material : 220 items, 1811-1846 New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Papers of Jane Porter, 1840, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (2) : London, to Mrs. [Sarah] Austen, 1836 May 21 and June 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Donald Hyde and Mary Hyde Eccles Autograph Collection, 1505-1957 (inclusive), 1702-1854 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Messrs. Longman & Co., [1826 May 10]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Pforzheimer, Carl H. (Carl Howard), 1879-1957,. Carl H. Pforzheimer collection of Shelley and his circle : manuscripts, 1772-1925 (bulk 1780-1850). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Henry Adams autograph album, 1833-1939. Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Sydney Smith papers, 1809-1843. Rice University, Fondren Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to an unidentified recipient, 1834 Nov. 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Collection of engravings, [16--]-1939. Flugschriften des Fruhen 16 Jahrhunderts
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Hodgson, [n.d., ca. 1837-1838]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [London], to Lady Canning, 1836 July 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, to an unidentified recipient, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hunt, Freeman, 1804-1858. Freeman Hunt letter to Cary & Keith [manuscript], no date. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Letter to the Pennsylvanians : manuscript, [1843] Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Sydney Smith collection, 1812-1843. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letters signed (2) : Foston, Yorks., and Taunton, Som., to Moore, 1825 Oct. 27 and 1843 July 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845,. Additional maps, prints, clippings [manuscript] 1761-1940. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Boswell's Life of Johnson : including Boswell's Journal of a tour to the Hebrides and Johnson's Diary of a journey into North Wales, edited by George Birkbeck Hill, extra-illustrated, 1464-1897 (inclusive), 1724-1874 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Jane [Beech], 1841 May 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to an unidentified recipient, 1833 June 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : Taunton, Som., to Miss Kingston, 1843 Dec. 24. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
referencedIn Autograph File, S, 1556-1996. Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to the Rev. Ellis, 1840 July 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Copies of letters (2) : London and Taunton, Som., to Dr. Henry Reeve, 1805 Oct. 29 and 1808 Aug. 11. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to "Dear Madam", [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to [Charles Robert] Cockerell, 1840 Nov. 8 and 1844 June 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Sydney, 1771-1845. Autograph letter signed : London, to Lord Clarendon, 1843 June 5. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Letters from various correspondents, 1805-1844. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Henry, 1838-1918 person
associatedWith Agar, Benjamin, person
associatedWith Allison, Archibald, person
associatedWith Ashburton, Lord, person
associatedWith Austen, Sarah, person
associatedWith Beach, Miss, person
associatedWith Beach, Mrs, person
associatedWith Beech, Jane, person
associatedWith Bigelow, John P. (John Prescott), 1797-1872 person
associatedWith Blomfield, Charles James, 1786-1857, person
associatedWith Borgman, Albert Stephens, 1890-1954 person
correspondedWith Boswell, James, 1740-1795 person
associatedWith Bowles, William Lisle, person
associatedWith Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 1806-1861. person
associatedWith Burry, Charlotte, Lady, person
associatedWith Church of England corporateBody
associatedWith Clarendon, Lord, person
associatedWith Cockerell, Charles Robert, fl. 1840, person
associatedWith Crome, Mrs., fl. 1838, person
associatedWith Dickinson family, collector. family
associatedWith Elliot, Miss, person
associatedWith Ellis, Rev, person
associatedWith Erskine, Caroline Rose. person
associatedWith Farquahar, Lady, person
associatedWith Fletcher, Mrs, person
associatedWith Frankland, Lady. person
associatedWith Fuller, B. A. G. (Benjamin Apthorp Gould), 1879-1956 person
associatedWith Goren, Mr, person
associatedWith Gratham, Miss, person
associatedWith Hall, Captain, person
associatedWith Hardwicke, Mr, person
associatedWith Hayward, A., person
associatedWith Hemenway, Amy, collector. person
associatedWith Hodgson, person
associatedWith Holland, Emily, person
associatedWith Holland, Lady, person
associatedWith Horner, Francis, 1778-1817. person
correspondedWith Howe family. family
associatedWith Howe, S. G. (Samuel Gridley), 1801-1876. person
associatedWith Howley, William, person
associatedWith Hunt, Freeman, 1804-1858. person
associatedWith Ingoldsby, Thomas, 1788-1845 person
associatedWith Jeffrey, Francis, person
associatedWith John, person
correspondedWith Kemble, Fanny, 1809-1893 person
associatedWith Kinglake, Mr, person
associatedWith Kingston, Miss, person
associatedWith Lamb, Caroline, Lady, 1785-1828. person
correspondedWith Lamb, George, 1784-1834 person
associatedWith Lethbridge, Lady, person
associatedWith Longman & Co, corporateBody
associatedWith Longman, Mrs, person
associatedWith Malthus, Henry. person
associatedWith Malthus, T. R. (Thomas Robert), 1766-1834. person
associatedWith Milman, Henry Hart, 1791-1868. person
associatedWith Moore, person
associatedWith Moore, Thomas, 1779-1852. person
associatedWith Murchison, person
associatedWith Murray, John Archibald, Lord Murray, Sir, 1779-1859, person
associatedWith O'Connell, Daniel, person
associatedWith Pennington, Mrs, person
associatedWith Pforzheimer, Carl H. (Carl Howard), 1879-1957, person
associatedWith Ponsonby, William, person
associatedWith Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. person
associatedWith Prescott, William Hickling, 1796-1859. person
associatedWith Procter, Mrs, person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
associatedWith Reeve, Henry, Dr, person
associatedWith Rogers, Samuel, 1763-1855. person
associatedWith Romilly, Edward. person
associatedWith Russell, John, Lord, person
associatedWith Senior, Nassau William, 1790-1864. person
associatedWith Sheridan family. family
associatedWith Smith, Cecil, person
associatedWith Smith, Maria, person
associatedWith Smith, Robert Percy, person
associatedWith Smith, William Sidney, Sir, 1764-1840, person
associatedWith Stratford de Redcliffe, Eliza Charlotte (Alexander), Vicountess, d. 1882, person
associatedWith Straus, Donald B., Mrs., person
associatedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. person
associatedWith Tierney, George, person
associatedWith Turner, Rev, person
correspondedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852 person
associatedWith Wrangham, Francis, 1769-1842 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Pennsylvania
Great Britain
Subject
1839 Sept. 29
Authors, English
Catholic emancipation
Catholics
Catholics
Clergy
Clergy
Debts, Public
Edinburgh Review (1802)
Oxford movement
Occupation
Clergy
Activity

Person

Birth 1771-06-03

Death 1845-02-22

Information

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