Edwin Thomas Smith KCMG (1830 - 1919)

Born 6 Apr 1830 in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Florence (Stock) Smith — married 25 Jun 1857 (to 12 Feb 1862) in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Husband of Elizabeth (Spicer) Smith — married 11 Nov 1869 (to 6 Jun 1911) in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 25 Dec 1919 at age 89 in Marryatville, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Edwin was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom during 1830. He is the son of Edwin Smith and Louisa Mason. He passed away in Marryatville, South Australia during 1919.

Edwin was born in Walsall, Staffordshire on 6 April 1830 to Edwin Smith and Louisa Mason.^[1][2]

Edwin migrated to South Australia aboard the ship, California, which arrived on 17 October 1853.^[1][3]

Edwin married Florence Stock in Adelaide, South Australia on 25 June 1857.^[4]

After Florence's death in 1862, Edwin married Elizabeth Spicer in Adelaide, South Australia on 11 November 1869.^[5]

Edwin died in Marryatville, South Australia on 25 December 1919 at the age of 89 years.^[6] The following death notice was published in the South Australian newspaper, The Advertiser, on 27 December 1919:^[7]

SMITH.—On Christmas Day, at "The Acacias," Marryatville, Edwin Thomas Smith, in his 90th year.

Edwin was buried at the Clayton Church Cemetery (now called the Clayton-Wesley Uniting Church Cemetery) in Kensington, South Australia on 27 December 1919.^[8][9]

The following obituary was published in the South Australian newspaper, The Border Watch, on 30 December 1919:^[10]

DEATH OF SIR EDWIN SMITH. FULL OF YEARS AND HONOR.

One of the most widely esteemed citizens of Adelaide, Sir Edwin Thomas Smith, died at his residence, Adelaide (sic), on Christmas Day. He was able to visit the city regularly until quite recently. About a fortnight ago he went to the Adelaide Town Hall to attend the civic ceremony of drinking to the memory of Colonel Light. Afterwards he was seized with partial paralysis, which had confined him to his bed. He was twice married. His first wife was Florence,-a daughter of the late Mr. Robert Stock, of Clifton, England, whom he married in 1857. She died in 1862. Seven years later he married Elizabeth, daughter of the late Mr. Edward Spicer, of Adelaide. Lady Smith, who was in, indifferent health for several years, died in 1911. Sir Edwin left one son and one daughter - Mr. Talbot Smith, M.A., LL.B., and Mrs. G. H. Dean, wife of Colonel Dean, both of Adelaide.

Of the many philanthropic men it has been the good fortune of South Australia to claim as citizens, Sir E. T. Smith probably ranked amongst the most prominent for his benefactions to charities and his generous support of all forms of healthy. sport-happy catholic qualities which ensured for him firm friends among every section of the community. He lived much in the public eye during his long life of 90 years, and filled many positions in civic circles, in Parliament, and in financial and social institutions, and in all he gained the respect and confidence of the public. The Premier (Mr. A. H. Peake), referring to his death, said- :- "By the death of. Sir Edwin Smith the State had lost one of its most highly esteemed and worthy citizens, one who had had (sic) an eminently useful and varied career, and through it all he had borne without abuse the grand old name of gentleman." The occasion would be remembered when the city of Norwood had presented him with its freedom as a well-merited tribute to its most prominent citizen. Wonderment was then expressed at the recital of the many prominent positions he had filled, as well as by the long list of his public benefactions. The community would be the poorer and would not, seem the same with his name removed from the roll of its leading citizens. He had departed full of years with all that, should accompany old age, as honor. love, obedience, troops of friends. He had left a fragrant memory.

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He was mayor of Kensington and Norwood in 1867-70 and 1871-73<.

In 1875 Smith moved his business to the Kent Town Brewery, built at a cost of £17,000. In 1879-81 and 1886-87 as mayor of Adelaide he worked energetically to bring the city up to the best modern standards .

In 1871-93 Smith represented East Torrens in the House of Assembly. Believing he could best serve his electors as an independent member, he served only one short term in the ministry, as minister of education in 1884. Popular because of his efficient interest in people and Adelaide, he never lost an election. His down-to-earth common sense, application, zeal and reliability were the basis of his parliamentary career rather than great erudition and oratory. In 1888 he retired from business and in 1894-1902 was a member of the Legislative Council for the Southern Districts. He made several visits to England, the last in 1913 .

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1920 'Obituary.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 3 January, p. 10. , viewed 27 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87444443
2. ↑ Peter Moore, ‘Sir Edwin Thomas Smith’, SA History Hub, History Trust of South Australia, https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/people/sir-edwin-thomas-smith, accessed 28 December 2022.
3. ↑ 1853 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 18 October, p. 2. , viewed 27 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48548373
4. ↑ Genealogy SA, Online Database Search for Marriage Registration, accessed 29 November 2022 (Subscription required to view full details of the above source), Search result follows - Groom Surname: SMITH, Groom Given Names: Edwin Thomas, Bride Surname: STOCK, Bride Given Names: Florence, Marriage Date: 25-Jun-1857, Marriage Place: Congregational Chapel Adelaide, Groom Age: 26, Groom Marital Status: N, Groom Father: Edwin SMITH, Bride Age: 20, Bride Marital Status: N, Bride Father: Robert STOCK, District: Adelaide, Book/Page: 30/84
5. ↑ Genealogy SA, Online Database Search for Marriage Registration, accessed 29 November 2022 (Subscription required to view full details of the above source), Search result follows - Groom Surname: SMITH, Groom Given Names: Edwin Thomas, Bride Surname: SPICER, Bride Given Names: Elizabeth, Marriage Date: 11-Nov-1869, Marriage Place: Stow Memorial Congregational Church Adelaide, Groom Age: 38, Groom Marital Status: W, Groom Father: Edwin SMITH, Bride Age: 23, Bride Marital Status: S, Bride Father: Edward SPICER, District: Adelaide Book/Page: 81/301
6. ↑ Genealogy SA, Online Database Search for Death Registration, accessed 29 November 2022 (Subscription required to view full details of the above source), Search result follows - Surname: SMITH, First Names: Edwin Thomas, Death Date: 25-Dec-1919, Age: 89, Gender: M, Marital Status: M, Place of Death: Marryatville, Residence: Marryatville, Relative: Not Recorded, District: Norwood, Book/Page: 434/288
7. ↑ 1919 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 27 December, p. 6. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5652268
8. ↑ 1919 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 27 December, p. 2. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5652246
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204663055/edwin-thomas-smith: accessed 23 December 2022), memorial page for Sir Edwin Thomas Smith (6 Apr 1830–25 Dec 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 204663055, citing Clayton-Wesley Uniting Church Cemetery, Kensington, Norwood Payneham St Peters City, South Australia, Australia; Maintained by Jack Edwards (contributor 49577555).
10. ↑ 1919 'DEATH OF SIR EDWIN SMITH.', Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), 30 December, p. 2. , viewed 27 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77755104

External links

• Australian Dictionary of Biography article
• Wikipedia: Edwin Thomas Smith
• History Trust of South Australia article