Smiles, Samuel, 1812-1904

Samuel Smiles was an author and reformer, probably best known for his pioneering self-help books. Born in Haddington, Scotland, he was apprenticed to a doctor, and continued his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh. He practiced medicine for several years, supplementing his income by lecturing and writing articles, eventually moving to Leeds and becoming the editor of the radical Leeds Times. He also worked as a railroad secretary, and continued to write numerous articles on reform, gradually softening his radical tone and adopting a more liberal view. He later wrote biographies, including Lives of the Engineers, but is best known for the wildly popular and groundbreaking work Self-help, essentially inventing the genre of self-improvement books.

From the description of Samuel Smiles letter to William White, 1868 March 19. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 144876248

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