Augustus Smith
Encyclopedia
Augustus John Smith was governor of the Isles of Scilly
for over thirty years, and was largely responsible for the economy of the islands as it is today.
, Hertfordshire, England, and went into banking. He became known locally as a philanthropist, doing his best to improve educational standards in his home district. In 1834 he acquired the lease
on the Isles of Scilly
from the Duchy of Cornwall
for £20,000, and set about changing the islanders' way of life, expelling those who could not find a job locally and evacuating some of the smaller islands, where small populations were farming at barely subsistence level.
are commemorated by the award of the Augustus Smith scholarship for state school students in Berkhamsted.
. In 1855, he expelled the ten inhabitants of Samson, in order to turn the island into a deer park (the deer did not like the habitat, and escaped.)
Smith created the quasi-aristocratic title Lord Proprietor for himself, and many of his actions were unpopular. However, it can be said that not all these were detrimental to the inhabitants. Besides building a new quay at Hugh Town
on St. Mary's
, he sowed gorse
and trees to provide shelter for the agricultural land. He built schools on the well-inhabited islands.
. He never married, but is believed to have had illegitimate children by several of his female servants. He had a close relationship with Lady Sophia Tower, a married woman (and only daughter of the 1st Earl Brownlow
) who often visited him at Tresco. The estate was inherited by his nephew Thomas Algernon Smith-Dorrien-Smith
, and his descendents retain the lease into the present day. He also owned the Hammerwood Park
estate in Sussex, and introduced rhododendrons to the gardens where they remain to this day.
(MP) for Truro from 1857 to 1865. He served as President of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
from 1857-1862, and also of the Royal Institution of Cornwall
on July 31st, 1872. He was laid to rest in St Buryan's Church, St Buryan
, Cornwall
. A tall stone monument was erected in the churchyard of St Mary's Old Church, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
to recognise Smith's involvement with the Isles.
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
for over thirty years, and was largely responsible for the economy of the islands as it is today.
Biography
Smith was born at Ashlyns Hall, BerkhamstedBerkhamsted
-Climate:Berkhamsted experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Castle:...
, Hertfordshire, England, and went into banking. He became known locally as a philanthropist, doing his best to improve educational standards in his home district. In 1834 he acquired the lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
on the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
from the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
for £20,000, and set about changing the islanders' way of life, expelling those who could not find a job locally and evacuating some of the smaller islands, where small populations were farming at barely subsistence level.
Stemmata Smithiana-Ferraria
In 1861, Augustus Smith Esq., M.P. published "A True and Faithful History of the Family of Smith, Originally Cradled at Wiverton and Cropwell-Butler, in the Parish of Titheby, and more recently established at Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham". As the long winded title suggests, it traces the family name from its early beginnings and purports "the county of Nottingham may justly be considered as the fatherland of Smiths, who have always abounded within its borders."Berkhamsted Common
In 1866 Lord Brownlow tried to enclose Berkhamsted Common with 5' steel fences built by Woods of Berkhamsted and therefore, claim it as part of his estate. Augustus Smith MP led gangs of local men and hired men from London's East End brought out on the new railway on a specially chartered train to break the fences and protect Berkhamsted Common for the people of Berkhamsted. East End toughs and local Berkhamsted men and women fought that night against Lord Brownlow's men in what became known nationally as the Battle of Berkhamsted Common. This and his actions in promoting working class educationWorking Class Education
Working class education is the education of working-class people.-History:Prior to the 19th century, education for most members of society was elementary and only an elite received advanced education...
are commemorated by the award of the Augustus Smith scholarship for state school students in Berkhamsted.
Lord Proprietor of Scilly
In 1834, Augustus Smith acquired the lease on the Isles of Scilly from the Duchy of Cornwall for £20,000, and set about changing the islanders' way of life, expelling those who could not find a job locally and evicting some of the inhabitants of smaller islands, in a manner similar to that practised in the Scottish clearancesHighland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
. In 1855, he expelled the ten inhabitants of Samson, in order to turn the island into a deer park (the deer did not like the habitat, and escaped.)
Smith created the quasi-aristocratic title Lord Proprietor for himself, and many of his actions were unpopular. However, it can be said that not all these were detrimental to the inhabitants. Besides building a new quay at Hugh Town
Hugh Town
Hugh Town is the main settlement on the Isles of Scilly. The town is situated on the island of St. Mary's It is located on a narrow isthmus which joins the peninsula known as The Garrison with the rest of the island of St. Mary's....
on St. Mary's
St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly
St Mary's is the largest island of the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the southwest coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.-Description:...
, he sowed gorse
Gorse
Gorse, furze, furse or whin is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green...
and trees to provide shelter for the agricultural land. He built schools on the well-inhabited islands.
Personal life
Smith lived at Tresco AbbeyTresco Abbey Gardens
Tresco Abbey Gardens are located on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom.A Benedictine abbey was founded here in 964 AD, although the majority of what remains today comes from the Priory of St Nicholas founded by monks from Tavistock Abbey in 1114.The gardens were...
. He never married, but is believed to have had illegitimate children by several of his female servants. He had a close relationship with Lady Sophia Tower, a married woman (and only daughter of the 1st Earl Brownlow
John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow
John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow, GCH was a British Peer and Tory politician.Cust was the eldest son of the 1st Baron Brownlow and his second wife, Frances. In 1802, he was elected as MP for Clitheroe and held the seat until he succeeded to his father's title in 1807. In May, 1805 he was elected a...
) who often visited him at Tresco. The estate was inherited by his nephew Thomas Algernon Smith-Dorrien-Smith
Thomas Algernon Smith-Dorrien-Smith
Lieutenant Thomas Algernon Smith-Dorrien-Smith JP, DL, was Lord Proprietor of the Isles of Scilly from 1872 - 1918.-Family:...
, and his descendents retain the lease into the present day. He also owned the Hammerwood Park
Hammerwood Park
Hammerwood Park is a grade I listed country house near East Grinstead, Sussex, England at and Grade 1 listed of historical interest.- History :It was the first work of the architect Benjamin Latrobe...
estate in Sussex, and introduced rhododendrons to the gardens where they remain to this day.
Public offices
He was Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Truro from 1857 to 1865. He served as President of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
Royal Geological Society of Cornwall
The Royal Geological Society of Cornwall is a geological society based in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1814 to promote the study of the geology of Cornwall, and is the second oldest geological society in the world....
from 1857-1862, and also of the Royal Institution of Cornwall
Royal Institution of Cornwall
The Royal Institution of Cornwall was founded in Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom, in 1818 as the Cornwall Literary and Philosophical Institution. The Institution was one of the earliest of seven similar societies established in England and Wales. The RIC moved to its present site in River Street...
Death
Smith died in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
on July 31st, 1872. He was laid to rest in St Buryan's Church, St Buryan
St Buryan
St Buryan is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The village of St Buryan is situated approximately five miles west of Penzance along the B3283 towards Land's End...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. A tall stone monument was erected in the churchyard of St Mary's Old Church, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
to recognise Smith's involvement with the Isles.