Memorial to Dr. Samuel Smiles (1812–1904)

Abstract

ON Saturday, December 4, a bronze tablet to the memory of Samuel Smiles was unveiled at Zion School, Leeds, by Sir James Baillie, vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds. In the course of his speech Sir James said: "Smiles had a singularly sane outlook on human life and a remarkable grasp of the simple elementary principles on which human society ultimately rests. He made himself eminent in his spare time—what we should now call his leisure moments, at the end of busy days. Part of his spare time in Leeds he gave to those who attended Zion School." Smiles's first book, entitled "Physical Education", was published in 1837 at his own expense and reprinted in 1905. Messrs. John Murray published in 1905 his "Autobiography", which contains a copy of his portrait, by Sir George Beid, in the National Portrait Gallery, and in 1857 "Life of George Stephenson", which is an engineering classic. The latter arose from his meeting Stephenson at the opening of the Leeds and Derby railway, later absorbed by the Midland. He collected material during week-ends by interviewing people on Tyneside who knew of the early work, and also he received information from Robert Stephenson and the Peases of Darlington, etc. "Self-Help" arose from lectures he gave in Leeds, particularly one on education of the working classes in 1845. It was published in 1859, after being refused by a well-known publisher. Nearly half a million copies have been printed and it has appeared in the record number of twenty-six languages. In it and in "Character and Duty" Dr. Smiles showed the British people to the world as very virile and inventive. Although trained as a physician he spent most of his working life as editor and writer of books, and from 1845 until 1866 was secretary of two railway companies. He was largely responsible for the Charing Cross railway and terminuses.