Thomas Henry Smith (born 1 July 1830 in

Carrickmacross Carrickmacross () is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 5,032 according to the 2016 census, making it the second-largest town in the county. Carrickmacross is a market town which developed around a ca ...

, County Monaghan, Ireland) was an Irish Australian who had a clear role in the origins of Australian football by being one of the first people to introduce school football games to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n public schools in 1858 and as one of the founders of the

Melbourne Football Club The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. It is based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, ...

. Smith was a founding member and signatory to the foundation document of the Melbourne Football Club. According to some sources (including himself in an 1876 letter to '' The Australasian'' ) he was one of few people to be present at the meeting of the

incorporation Incorporation may refer to: * Incorporation (business), the creation of a corporation * Incorporation of a place, creation of municipal corporation such as a city or county * Incorporation (academic), awarding a degree based on the student having ...

of the club on 17 May 1859. At this meeting, the first Laws of Australian Football were decided upon and written. Smith was also a distinguished player for the club.

Life

Educated at

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

(

Dublin University The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...

) (1846–50), Smith was a headmaster at several Melbourne

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

s including the Model School and inspector for schools for

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban population of 100,991, makin ...

. Smith was involved in early experimental matches of Australian Football against Melbourne Grammar School between July–August 1858 and is said to have facilitated the matches as one of three teachers who took part. In addition to being involved in the football club, Smith was a cricketer and member of the Melbourne Cricket Club serving on the committee in 1861. He was captain of the Melbourne Football club in 1862 during the Caledonian Society games. He was also the first captain to take a test away from home when Melbourne played the

Geelong Football Club The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed the Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition, and are the 2022 ...

and won. In 1864 he was suspended from teaching due to his sharp temper and strict discipline before resigning from his position in 1875. Smith was involved in the selection committee at Melbourne FC in 1865. He moved to South Australia and in 1876, wrote to '' The Australasian'' from there to speak out against what he perceived as poor journalism from which had overlooked his role in the foundation of the Melbourne Football Club. Details of his life are scant and according to the Melbourne Football Club, it is not known when and where he died.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Thomas H. 1830 births Year of death missing People from Carrickmacross Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) Sportspeople from Melbourne Sportspeople from County Monaghan Irish players of Australian rules football Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Melbourne Football Club founders Australian headmasters Melbourne Football Club (pre-VFA) players