the north, and in 1864 lectured in the United
States. He was appointed professor of
English and constitutional
GOLDWIN SMITH
history at
Cornell University
in 1868. Since 1871
he has lived in
Canada, where he edited
the Canadian
Monthly and founded
and edited The
Week and The
Bystander. His
writings, which are
marked by vigorous
thought, incisive
and brilliant style,
remarkable powers
of compressing much
into little space,
great lucidity and
high interest, embrace Irish History; Lectures
on the Study of History; Three English
Statesmen; The United States (1492-1871);
The United Kingdom; biographies of Garrison,
Cowper and Jane Austen; and numerous
other works. He died June 7, 1910.
Smith, Henry Boynton, an American theologian, was born at Portland, Me., in 1815. He studied at Halle and at Berlin, Germany, after finishing his theological studies at Andover and at Bangor. He was a professor of philosophy at Amherst College, and of church-history and, later, of theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He held this position 20 years, which, with translations of works on church-history, made him one of the first theologians of the Presbyterian church. He died at New York, Feb. 7, 1877.
Smith, Captain John, the founder of Virginia, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1580. He traveled in France and the Low Countries, and, when on his way to join the Christian army fighting against the Turks in Hungary, was robbed by four adventurers. He joined a ship, half merchant and half pirate, and helped to capture a Venetian argosy. He distinguished himself in the service of Ferdinand, Duke of Austria; was next sold as a slave; but escaped and traveled through Germany, France, Spain and Morocco. In 1605 he joined an expedition of three vessels and 105 men, to found a colony in Virginia. On the way out he was accused, by the leaders, of a conspiracy to make himself king of Virginia and was kept a prisoner on the voyage. Jamestown was founded on James River in April, 1607. Smith, after being tried and acquitted, was made a member of the council, and was the real head of the colony, saving it from destruction. On one of his journeys into the country for corn he was captured by the Indians under Powhatan, their chief, and his life saved by Pocahontas, the chief's daughter. The story, however, has been doubted by late writers. On his return to Jamestown he found the colony reduced to about 40 men, who were anxious to return to England, but were induced by Smith to remain until others arrived. He explored Chesapeake Bay in two voyages, traveling about 3,000 miles and making a map of the country. He was superseded in 1609 as governor by Lord Delaware, and returned to England. In 1614 he explored the coasts of New England, making a map of the country, which he presented to Prince Charles. He undertook the founding of a colony in New England in 1615, but his vessel was captured by a French war-ship, and he was carried to La Rochelle. After his escape he wrote an account of his voyages to New England. He also wrote General Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles and the True Travels, Adventures and Observations of Captain John Smith. Consult Life in Sparks' “American Biography.” He died at London, June 21, 1631. See Pocahontas.
Smith, Joseph, Jr. See Mormons.
Smith, Samuel Francis, an American clergyman, was born at Boston, Mass., in 1808. He served as pastor of Baptist churches in Waterville, Me., Newton and Boston, Mass., and edited The Christian Review and other Baptist periodicals. He is known as the author of several hymns, but especially of the national hymn, My Country 'tis of Thee, which he wrote in 1832, while a theological student at Andover. A Baptist hymn-book contains 27 of his hymns. He died on Nov. 16, 1895. Dr. Holmes said of him: “Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith, but he shouted a song: My Country, of Thee.”
Smith, Syd′ney, an English author, was born at Woodford, Essex, June 3, 1771. He studied at Oxford and was curate at Netheravon where he became tutor to a young man intending to study in Germany, but the war prevented and sent them to Edinburgh. Here, in 1802, with Jeffrey, Homer and Brougham he started The Edinburgh Review, writing 18 articles in the first four numbers. He next lived six years in London, where he made his mark as a lecturer on philosophy, a preacher and a brilliant talker. He was made rector of Combe Florey in Somerset and a prebendary at St. Paul's, London. He wrote 65 articles for The Edinburgh Review; Peter Plymley's Letters in favor of Catholic emancipation; and letters and pamphlets on the ballot, the game-laws, prison abuses etc. He is best known, however, as a wit and the creator of “Mrs. Partington.” He died on Feb. 22, 1845. See Life by Holland and Reid's Times of Sydney Smith.
Smith, Sir William, an English classical scholar and for many years editor of The
