Sydney Smith facts for kids
Sydney Smith (born June 3, 1771 – died February 22, 1845) was a clever English writer, a funny speaker, and a leader in the Anglican Church. He was known for his sharp wit and his strong opinions on important issues of his time.
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Sydney Smith's Early Life and Education
Sydney Smith was born in Woodford, Essex, England. His father, Robert Smith, was a businessman who owned many different properties. His mother, Maria Olier, had French family roots. Sydney believed his lively personality came from his French background, as his grandfather was a French Protestant refugee, also known as a Huguenot.
Sydney was one of five talented children. While his older brothers went to Eton College, Sydney and his youngest brother went to Winchester College. They were so good at their studies that other students signed a round-robin letter. This letter asked that the Smith brothers not be allowed to compete for school prizes anymore because they won too often!
In 1789, Sydney went to New College at the University of Oxford. He earned his first degree in 1792 and a Master of Arts degree in 1796. He wanted to become a lawyer, but his father wanted him to join the church instead. So, Sydney became an Anglican priest in 1796.
Becoming a Church Leader and Writer
Sydney Smith started his church work as a curate in the village of Netheravon, near Salisbury Plain. A curate is a church leader who helps the main priest. He worked hard to help the people there, even providing ways for them to get a basic education.
In 1798, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to be a tutor for a young man named Michael Hicks-Beach. While there, Sydney studied many subjects and preached in a church, attracting large crowds.
In 1800, Sydney published his first book of sermons. That same year, he married Catharine Amelia Pybus. In Edinburgh, he became friends with people who would later start the famous Edinburgh Review magazine. Sydney himself suggested starting the magazine and was its first editor in 1802. He wrote many brilliant articles for the Edinburgh Review for the next 25 years, which helped make it very successful.
Moving to London and Fighting for Change
In 1803, Sydney Smith moved to London. He quickly became well-known as a preacher, a speaker, and a popular person in society. Many people came to hear him preach. He also gave lectures on moral philosophy at the Royal Institution. His ideas were quite advanced for his time. For example, he believed that women should be educated, that slavery should be ended, and that schools should teach practical subjects instead of just old classical languages.
Sydney was a friend of the Whig Party, a political group in England. When the Whigs were in power for a short time in 1806, they gave Sydney a church position in Foston-le-Clay in Yorkshire. He had to move there in 1809.
While in Yorkshire, Sydney wrote his most famous work, Peter Plymley's Letters. These letters were about Catholic emancipation, which was the idea that Roman Catholics should have the same rights as Protestants in England. At the time, Catholics faced many restrictions. Sydney used humor and strong arguments to make fun of those who opposed Catholic rights. His letters were very popular and helped change public opinion.
Life in Yorkshire and Later Years
Sydney Smith lived in Yorkshire for 20 years. He was the first resident church leader there in 150 years! He worked hard to improve his church and the local area. He also continued to speak out for Catholic emancipation. He argued strongly against the idea that Catholics could not be trusted because of their faith.
In 1828, Sydney received a better church position in Bristol Cathedral. This allowed him to move to Combe Florey near Taunton. From this time on, he stopped writing for the Edinburgh Review.
Many people expected Sydney to become a bishop (a very high-ranking church leader) when the Whigs came back into power. However, the Prime Minister, William Melbourne, did not appoint him. Some church leaders were suspicious of Sydney's practical approach to religion and his dislike for extreme religious emotion.
Even though he didn't become a bishop, Sydney continued to fight for important causes. He strongly supported parliamentary reform, which meant changing the way Parliament worked to make it fairer. He gave a famous speech in 1831 where he compared the House of Lords (a part of the British Parliament) to an old woman trying to stop the ocean with a mop. This showed how useless he thought their efforts were to stop progress.
Later in life, Sydney inherited a large sum of money, which made him financially secure. He faced sadness when his eldest son, Douglas, died young. However, he remained cheerful and continued to write powerful articles. Sydney Smith died in London on February 22, 1845, and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.
Sydney Smith's Legacy
Sydney Smith was very famous for his humor and wit during his lifetime. Many funny sayings are still attributed to him today, though some might not be truly his. He was known for being clever without making fun of serious religious topics.
Even long after his death, Sydney Smith is still quoted in English literature. He is also remembered by many people in the United States for his fun rhyming recipe for salad dressing!
Some experts believe that the character Mr. Henry Tilney in Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey might have been based on Sydney Smith.
The [Sydney Smith Association] is a group that works to keep his memory and achievements alive. They aim to publish as many of his writings online as possible.
- Judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur (the judge is condemned when the guilty is acquitted) —Publilius Syrus, Sententiae.
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American writer and critic, John Neal, was upset by Sydney Smith's "insolent" comment about American literature.
Secondary Literature
If you want to learn more about Sydney Smith, here are some books:
- Austin, Sarah, ed., 1855. A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith by his daughter, Lady Holland, with a Selection from his Letters, 2 vols.
- Chevrillon, A., 1894. Sydney Smith et la renaissance des idées libérales en Angleterre au XIX' siècle.
- Pearson, Hesketh, 1934. The Smith of Smiths, a biography.
- Reid, Stuart J., 1884. A Sketch of the Life and Times of Sydney Smith.
- Russell, G. W. E., 1905. Sydney Smith ("English Men of Letters" series).
- A chapter on "Sydney Smith" in Lord Houghton's Monographs Social and Personal (x 873).
- Bell, Alan., 1980. Sydney Smith: A Biography Oxford, Clarendon Press.
- Virgin, Peter., 1994 Sydney Smith. London, Harper Collins.
There are also many mentions of Smith in letters and journals from his time.
