Thomas Bywater Smithies

Thomas Bywater Smithies (27 August 1817 — 20 July 1883) was an English radical publisher and campaigner for temperance and animal welfare. He was the founder and editor of The British Workman.

Thomas Bywater Smithies
Born	27 August 1817 York, England
Died	20 July 1883 (1883-07-21) (aged 65) London, England
Occupation	Editor, publisher, campaigner
Parent(s)	Catherine Smithies (mother)

Life and work

Smithies was born in York, to James and Catherine Smithies, the second of ten children.[1] His mother was a campaigner for abolitionism, animal welfare and temperance. He was converted to Methodism at age 15, joining the Methodist Society.[2] The following year, he started work at the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company,[3] where he worked for 18 years, while also working as a Sunday school teacher.[2] He became teetotal in 1837, aged 20.[3]

In 1849, Smithies moved to London to become the manager of the Gutta Percha Company.[3] The first "Band of Hope" in London was formed at Hannah Bevan's house and it included some of her neighbours and children.[4] In 1851, he published Sunday Scholars' Friend and the Band of Hope Review (1851–1937). This was followed by The British Workman in 1855; edited by Smithies.[5] Subsequent publications included The Infant's Magazine, The Children's Friend, The Family Friend, The Friendly Visitor, and The Weekly Welcome.[2]

In 1879, he published the Band of Mercy Advocate (1879–1934), a periodical for the Bands of Mercy movement, which was founded by his mother.[6]

Death

On 20 July 1883, after a period of long illness, Smithies died of heart disease, aged 67.[2][3] He was buried with his mother in Abney Park Cemetery.[7]

References

1. "Smithies, Thomas Bywater (1817–1883), campaigner for temperance and for animal welfare campaigner for animal welfare". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
2. Stevenson, George John (1884). Methodist Worthies: Characteristic Sketches of Methodist Preachers of the Several Denominations, with Historical Sketch of Each Connexion. London: T. C. Jack. pp. 588–591.
3. "SMITHIES, Thomas Bywater (Editor, "British Workman")". BLT19: 19th-Century Business, Labour, Temperance, & Trade Periodicals. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
4. Phillips, Amanda (2004-09-23). "Bevan [née Bennett], Hannah Marishall (1798–1874), philanthropist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/45524. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
5. "British Workman magazine". Archives Hub. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
6. "Animals". BLT19: 19th-Century Business, Labour, Temperance, & Trade Periodicals. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
7. Pinching, Albert. "Wood Green's Obelisk". Hornsey Historical Society. Retrieved 2020-06-22.

Further reading

• T. B. Smithies: Editor of "The British workman": A Memoir (1884) by George Stringer Rowe