William Smith (Lexicographer)

Sir William Smith. Painting by George Reid.

Sir William Smith (born May 20, 1813 in Enfield , † October 7, 1893 in London ) was a British classical philologist and lexicographer .

Life

Coming from a non-conformist family, Smith was initially supposed to be a theologian, but then became an apprentice lawyer. His real interest, however, was in classical philology and archeology, in which he continued his autodidact. In 1830 he began training as a paralegal at Gray's Inn , but dropped out and took a position at the University College School in Hampstead . From then on he devoted himself to lexicographic projects.

From 1853 to 1869 he was a member of the examination board in the classical subjects at the University of London and after his retirement he became a member of the Senate of the university. From 1854 to 1855 he edited the works of Edward Gibbon and from 1867 until his death he was editor of the Quarterly Review . In 1892 he was knighted as a Knight Bachelor .

Works

• 1842: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
• 1849: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology 3 volumes (reprints in the years 1850 to 1880, e.g. full texts for 1867 at hathitrust.org )
• 1854: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography
• 1860-1865: Dictionary of the Bible
• 1875: The Atlas (with George Grove )
• 1875–1880: Dictionary of Christian Antiquities (with Samuel Cheetham)
• 1877–1887: Dictionary of Christian Biography (with Henry Wace)

literature

• Christopher Stray : William Smith and his dictionaries. A study in scarlet and black. In: Christopher Stray (Ed.): Classical books. Scholarship and publishing in Britain since 1800 (= Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies of the University of London. Supplementary Papers. Vol. 101). University of London - School of Advanced Study - Institute of Classical Studies, London 2007, ISBN 978-1-905670-15-4 , pp. 35-54.

Web links

Wikisource: Works by William Smith  - sources and full texts (English)

• A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - 1875 edition by LacusCurtius
• Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography - 1854 edition in the Perseus Project