William Henry Oliphant Smeaton facts for kids

William Henry Oliphant Smeaton (born October 24, 1856 – died March 31, 1914) was a Scottish writer, journalist, and teacher. He sometimes used the pen name Oliphant Smeaton. He became famous for writing about life in Australia for British magazines and newspapers. He also wrote exciting adventure stories and children's books in the 1890s. Later in his life, Smeaton wrote books about old Scottish history. He also helped edit many classic English books, poems, and stories. His most well-known book was The Life and Works of William Shakespeare (1911), which was reprinted many times because it was so popular.

About Oliphant Smeaton

William Smeaton was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on October 24, 1856. He was the youngest son of a church leader and a university professor. He studied at Edinburgh University. He first planned to become a clergyman, but he changed his mind for personal reasons.

His Travels and Early Career

In 1878, Smeaton moved to New Zealand, where he worked as a school teacher for several years. After that, he traveled to Australia. He spent ten years there working as a journalist, writing for different publications.

In 1893, he returned to Britain and settled in Edinburgh. He started writing about Australian life and literature for various publications in Victorian Britain. He also began writing adventure and children's fiction novels. Some of these popular books include By Adverse Winds (1895), Our Laddie (1897), and A Mystery of the Pacific (1899).

Working with Publishers

During this time, Smeaton started working with the Dent publishing company. He helped JM Dent with editing for two important book series: the Temple Classics and the Everyman Library. These series made classic books available to many readers.

Smeaton also edited books about Scottish history and English literature. He worked on books by famous writers like William Shakespeare, Thomas Dekker, and John Ford. His book The Life and Works of William Shakespeare (1911) was very successful and was printed again and again. William Smeaton passed away in Edinburgh on March 31, 1914.

Books by Oliphant Smeaton

Here are some of the books William Henry Oliphant Smeaton wrote or edited:

• By Adverse Winds (1895)
• Allan Ramsay (1896)
• Our Laddie (1897)
• Tobias Smollett (1897)
• Treasure Cave of the Blue Mountains (1899)
• A Mystery of the Pacific (1899)
• William Dunbar (1898)
• English Satires and Satirists (1899)
• Thomas Guthrie (1900)
• The Medici and the Italian Renaissance (1901)
• Edinburgh and its Story (1904)
• The Life and Works of William Shakespeare (1911)