Thomas Bywater Smithies (27 August 1817 – 20 July 1883) was an English radical publisher and campaigner for

temperance Temperance may refer to: Moderation *Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed *Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion Culture *Temperance (group), Canadian danc ...

and

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...

. He was the founder and editor of the broadsheet periodical ''

The British Workman ''The British Workman'' was an English broadsheet periodical, published monthly by Partridge and Co in London. The publishing house of S. W. Partridge & Co. was founded by Thomas Bywater Smithies of York in 1855 in order to publish ''The British ...

''.

Biography

Smithies was born in York, to James and

Catherine Smithies Catherine Smithies (; 1785 – 1877) was an English philanthropist and campaigner for animal welfare, abolitionism and temperance. She was the creator of the first Band of Mercy, which promoted teaching children kindness towards non-human animal ...

, the second of ten children. His mother was a campaigner for

abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The Britis ...

, animal welfare and temperance. He was converted to Methodism at age 15, joining the Methodist Society. The following year, he started work at the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company, where he worked for 18 years, while also working as a

Sunday school A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

teacher. He became teetotal in 1837, aged 20. In 1849, Smithies moved to London to become the manager of the

Gutta Percha Company The Gutta Percha Company was an English company formed in 1845 to make a variety of products from the recently introduced natural rubber gutta-percha. Unlike other natural rubbers, this material was thermoplastic allowing it to be easily mou ...

. The first "Band of Hope" in London was formed at

Hannah Bevan Hannah Marishall Bevan or Hannah Marishall Bennett (1 February 1798 – 7 November 1874) was a British philanthropist. She visited convict ships and workhouses and was involved in creating the Band of Hope in London. Life Bevan was born in Londo ...

's house and it included some of her neighbours and children. 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. Subsequent publications included ''The Infant's Magazine'', ''The Children's Friend'', ''The Family Friend'', ''The Friendly Visitor'', and ''The Weekly Welcome''. In 1879, he published the ''Band of Mercy Advocate'' (1879–1934), a periodical for the

Bands of Mercy Bands of Mercy were formal, locally led organizations that brought people—especially children and adolescents—together to learn about kindness to non-human animals. The Bands would also work to help animals and prevent cruelty in their area thr ...

movement, which was founded by his mother. On 20 July 1883, after a period of long illness, Smithies died of heart disease, aged 67. He was buried with his mother in

Abney Park Cemetery Abney Park cemetery is one of the "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries in London, England. Abney Park in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney, D ...

Biography

References

Further reading