George Samuel Fereday Smith facts for kids
George Samuel Fereday Smith (born May 7, 1812, died May 26, 1891) was an important English businessman. For 50 years, from 1837 to 1887, he helped manage the famous Bridgewater Canal. This canal was a major source of money for its owners, the Bridgewater Trustees.
Early Life and Education
George Fereday Smith was born in 1812 in Tipton, England. His father, Richard Smith, and his grandfather, Samuel Fereday, were both "ironmasters." This meant they owned and ran businesses that made iron.
George went to good schools, including Charterhouse and University College London. He then studied at Queen's College, Oxford, where he earned a degree in math and physics in 1835. After college, he traveled to Germany to study mining and geology. When he returned to England, he gained hands-on experience in mining and surveying. In early 1837, he was working as an engineer for a railway company. Then, in March, at just 24 years old, he was chosen to be the Deputy Superintendent of the Bridgewater Trustees.
Managing the Canals
The main person in charge of the Bridgewater Trustees was James Loch. Mr. Loch was very busy with many other things. This meant that George Fereday Smith was mostly in charge of the daily running of the business.
The Trust managed more than just the Bridgewater Canal. They also ran coal mines, farms, and a business that made lime. From 1848, they also managed the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, another important waterway.
During this time, canals faced strong competition from new railways. George Fereday Smith worked very hard to keep the canals successful. He believed in spending money to make things better. He helped build new facilities like Egerton Dock in Liverpool and the Runcorn and Weston Canal. He also helped create the Alfred Dock in Runcorn. He even had electric telegraph lines put along the canal banks to help with communication.
After James Loch died in 1855, George Fereday Smith became even more influential. He was basically the general manager of the entire business. Under his leadership, the profits from the canal and coal mines grew a lot. He stayed in his job when the business changed hands in 1872. He finally retired in 1887 when the Manchester Ship Canal Company took over.
Personal Life and Achievements
In 1845, George Fereday Smith married Mary Jane Hampson. They had two daughters and one son. He became quite wealthy, partly from his good salary, which reached £1,500 a year by 1864. He also had money from his wife's family.
Even though he was busy with the canals, he had many other interests. In his late thirties, he studied law and became a barrister in 1852. This meant he could argue cases in court. He was a member of important groups like the Geological Society and the Royal Geographical Society.
He also served the public. He was a Conservative councillor (a local politician) in Manchester from 1846 to 1849. He was also a borough magistrate, which meant he helped with local justice. In the early 1870s, he bought a large country house in Kent. In 1884, he was appointed High Sheriff of Kent, an important ceremonial role. George Fereday Smith died in London in 1891. His son, Richard Clifford Smith, took over his position.
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