SMITH, SIR WILLIAM (1813-1893)

This article appears in Volume V25, Page 271 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

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SMITH, SIR WILLIAM (1813-1893) , English lexicographer, was born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents. He was originally destined for a theological career,. but instead was articled to a solicitor. In his spare time he taught bimselt
classics, and when he entered University College he carried off both the Greek and Latin prizes. He was entered at Gray's Inn in '83o, but gave up his legal studies for a post at University College school, and began to write on classical subjects. He next turned his attention to lexicography. His first attempt was the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, which appeared in 1842. The greater part of this was written by himself. In 1849 followed the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, and the Greek and Roman Geography in 1857. In this

work

WORK

some of the leading scholars of the day were associated with him. In '85o he published the first of the school dictionaries; and in 1853 he began the Principia

series

SERIES (a Latin word from serere, to join)

, which marked a distinct step in the school teaching of Greek and Latin. Then came the Students' Manuals of History and Literature, in which the Greek history was the editor's own

work

WORK

. In carrying out this task

Smith

was most ably seconded by John Murray, the publisher, who, when the

original

ORIGINAL

publishers of the dictionaries got into difficulties, volunteered to take a share in the under-taking. The most important, perhaps, of the books edited by William

Smith

were those that dealt with ecclesiastical subjects. These were the Dictionary of the Bible (186o1865); the Dictionary of Christian Antiquities (187 188o), undertaken in collaboration with Archdeacon Cheetham; and the Dictionary of Christian Biography (18771887), jointly with Dr Henry Wace. The Atlas, on which Sir George Grove collaborated, appeared in '875. From 18J3 to 1869 Smith was classical examiner to the University of London, and on his retirement he became a member of the Senate. He sat on the Committee to inquire into questions of copyright, and was for several years registrar of the Royal Literary Fund. He edited Gibbon, with Guizot's and Milman's notes, in 18J41855. In '867 he became editor of the Quarterly

Review

REVIEW (Fr. revue, from revoir, to see again, Lat. re and videre)

, which he directed with marked success until his death on the 7th of October '893, his remarkable memory and accuracy, as well as his tact and courtesy, specially fitting him for such a post. He was D.C.L. of Oxford and Dublin, and the honour of

knighthood

KNIGHTHOOD

was conferred on him the year before his death.

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