Wilson Smith, 1897-1965

• Published in: Biographical memoirs of fellows of the Royal Society 1966-11, Vol.12, p.478-487
• Main Author: Evans, David Gwynne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0080-4606; 1748-8494
• DOI: 10.1098/rsbm.1966.0023

Wilson Smith, who died on 10 July 1965, was brought up in Lancashire where the Smith family had lived for some generations. He was born on 21 June 1897 in the little town of Great Harwood, near Blackburn, situated at the edge of the Trough of Bowland. His father, John Howard Smith, owned a retail drapery shop but in 1907 when Wilson was ten years old, he died and the mother with four young children was faced with bringing them up and running the business. This was an arduous task but the mother had a most determined character, a firm belief in education and ambitions for the careers of her children. The sacrifices she made for her family were well rewarded, not only by Wilson but also by George the eldest who became a lecturer in mycology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Howard who was younger than Wilson who became a lecturer in theology at the University of Manchester, and Annie the youngest of the family who, before she married, was an oratorio singer. The modest and serious-minded environment in which Wilson Smith grew up had a deep and lasting influence. He remained until the end of his life a most serious person with an intense conscientious outlook and a fervent devotion to his work. His earliest education was received at Great Harwood Elementary School and Blackburn High Grade School. At the age of 13 he moved to Accrington Grammar where he spent about four years. It was here that the headmaster decided that Wilson Smith should become a teacher and for a year he worked as a pupil-teacher at Great Harwood Elementary School.