Thomas H. Smith
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Smith 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
n public schools in 1858 and as one of the founders of the Melbourne Football Club
.
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
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.
(Dublin University) (1846–50), Smith was a headmaster at several Melbourne
secondary school
s including the Model School and inspector for schools for Bendigo.
Nicknamed "red" or "football" (after his red hair
), 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.
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
and won.
In 1864 he was suspended from teaching due to his sharp temper and strict discipline before resigning from his position in 1875.
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.
Irish Australian
Irish Australians have played a long and enduring part in Australia's history. Many came to Australia in the eighteenth century as settlers or as convicts, and contributed to Australia's development in many different areas....
who had a clear role in the origins of Australian football by being one of the first people to introduce school football games
English public school football games
During the early modern era students, former students and teachers at English public schools developed and wrote down the first codes of football, most notably the Eton College...
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n public schools in 1858 and as one of the founders of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, 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
Incorporation may refer to:* Incorporation , the creation of a corporation* Incorporation of a place, creation of municipal corporation such as a city or county...
of the club on 17 May 1859. At this meeting, the first Laws of Australian Football
Laws of Australian football
The laws of Australian football describe the rules of the game of Australian rules football as they have evolved and adapted, with the same underlying core rules, since 1859....
were decided upon and written.
Smith was also a distinguished player for the club.
Life
Educated at Trinity CollegeTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
(Dublin University) (1846–50), Smith was a headmaster at several Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s including the Model School and inspector for schools for Bendigo.
Nicknamed "red" or "football" (after his red hair
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
), Smith was involved in early experimental matches of Australian Football against Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
between July–August 1858 and is said to have facilitated the matches as one of three teachers who took part.
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
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and won.
In 1864 he was suspended from teaching due to his sharp temper and strict discipline before resigning from his position in 1875.
He moved to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
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.