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Tobias George Smollett (bapt. 19 March 1721 – 17 September 1771) was a Scottish writer and surgeon. He was best known for writing
picaresque novel The picaresque novel ( Spanish: ''picaresca'', from ''pícaro'', for ' rogue' or 'rascal') is a genre of prose fiction. It depicts the adventures of a roguish but appealing hero, usually of low social class, who lives by his wits in a corrup ...
s such as ''
The Adventures of Roderick Random ''The Adventures of Roderick Random'' is a picaresque novel by Tobias Smollett, first published in 1748. It is partially based on Smollett's experience as a naval-surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, especially during the Battle of Cartagena de Ind ...
'' (1748), '' The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'' (1751) and '' The Expedition of Humphry Clinker'' (1771), which influenced later generations of British novelists, including
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
. His novels were liberally altered by contemporary printers; an authoritative edition of each was edited by Dr O. M. Brack Jr and others.


Early life and family

Smollett was born at Dalquhurn, now part of Renton in present-day West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, and baptised on 19 March 1721 (his birth date is estimated as 3 days previously). He was the fourth son of Archibald Smollett of
Bonhill Bonhill (; ) is a town in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is sited on the Eastern bank of the River Leven, Dunbartonshire, River Leven, on the opposite bank from the larger town of Alexandria, Scotland, Alexandria. ...
, a judge and landowner, laird of
Bonhill Bonhill (; ) is a town in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is sited on the Eastern bank of the River Leven, Dunbartonshire, River Leven, on the opposite bank from the larger town of Alexandria, Scotland, Alexandria. ...
, living at Dalquhurn on the River Leven, who died about 1726, when Smollett was just five years old. His mother Barbara Smollett née Cunningham brought the family up there, until she died about 1766. He had a brother, Captain James Smollett, and a sister, Jean Smollett, who married Alexander Telfair of Symington, Ayrshire. Jean succeeded to Bonhill after the death of her cousin-german, Mr Commissary Smollett, and resumed her maiden name of Smollett in 1780. They lived in St John Street off Canongate, Edinburgh, and had a son who was in the military.


Education and career

Smollett attended Dumbarton Grammar School and then was educated at the
University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...
, where he studied medicine and eventually qualified as a surgeon. Some biographers assert that he then proceeded to the
University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...
, but left without earning a degree. Others state that his career in medicine came second to his literary ambitions at the age of 18, and it was not until 1750, that Smollett was granted his MD degree at the
University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; ) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bis ...
. In 1739 he went to
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
having written a play ''The Regicide'', about the murder of King James I of Scotland. Unsuccessful at getting this on stage, he obtained a commission as a naval surgeon on and travelled to
Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
, where he settled down for several years. In 1742 he served as a surgeon during the disastrous campaign to capture Cartagena. These experiences were later included in the narrative of his novels. He married a wealthy Jamaican heiress, Anne "Nancy" Lascelles (1721–1791). She was a daughter of William Lascelles, but was unable to access her inheritance as it was invested in land and slaves. On their return to Britain, at the end of his Navy commission, Smollett established a practice in
Downing Street Downing Street is a gated street in City of Westminster, Westminster in London that houses the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In a cul-de-sac situated off Whiteh ...
but his wife did not join him until 1747; they had a daughter Elizabeth, who died aged 15 years about 1762. His two native languages were English and Scots. He translated famous works of the Enlightenment from other European languages.


Written works

Smollett's first published work in 1746 was a poem about the
Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, thereby endi ...
entitled "''The Tears of Scotland''". However, it was ''
The Adventures of Roderick Random ''The Adventures of Roderick Random'' is a picaresque novel by Tobias Smollett, first published in 1748. It is partially based on Smollett's experience as a naval-surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, especially during the Battle of Cartagena de Ind ...
'', a semi-autobiographical story of a 'north Britain on the make' which made his name. His poetry was described as "delicate, sweet and murmurs as a stream". ''The Adventures of Roderick Random'' was modelled on Le Sage's '' Gil Blas'' and despite its scandalous content covering 'snobbery, prostitution, debt and hinting at homosexuality', it was published in 1748. After that, Smollett finally had his
tragedy A tragedy is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a tragic hero, main character or cast of characters. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy is to invoke an accompanying catharsi ...
''The Regicide'' published, although it was never performed. In 1750, he travelled to
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, where he obtained material for his second novel, '' The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'', another success. Having lived for a brief time in
Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...
, he returned to London and published '' The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom'' in 1753, but this did not sell well and he went into debt. His novels were published by the well-known London bookseller Andrew Millar. Smollett became considered as a 'man of letters' and associated with such figures as
David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...
,
Laurence Sterne Laurence Sterne (24 November 1713 – 18 March 1768) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican cleric. He is best known for his comic novels ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'' (1759–1767) and ''A Sentimental Journey Thro ...
,
Oliver Goldsmith Oliver Goldsmith (10 November 1728 – 4 April 1774) was an Anglo-Irish people, Anglo-Irish poet, novelist, playwright, and hack writer. A prolific author of various literature, he is regarded among the most versatile writers of the Georgian e ...
, and
Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
, whom he famously nicknamed "that Great Cham of literature". In 1755 he published an English translation of
Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( ; ; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelist ...
' novel ''
Don Quixote , the full title being ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'', is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, the novel is considered a founding work of Western literature and is of ...
'', which he revised in 1761. In 1756, he became briefly editor of the 58-volume ''
Universal History Universal history may refer to: * Universal history (genre), a literary genre **''Jami' al-tawarikh'', 14th-century work of literature and history, produced by the Mongol Ilkhanate in Persia ** Universal History (Sale et al), ''Universal History'' ...
,'' and editor of '' The Critical Review,'' from which later he had a successful
libel Defamation is a communication that injures a third party's reputation and causes a legally redressable injury. The precise legal definition of defamation varies from country to country. It is not necessarily restricted to making assertions ...
case brought against him by Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, and a three-month prison sentence, and fine of £100. Smollett then began what he regarded as his major work, ''A Complete History of England'' (1757–1765) which helped recoup his finances, along with profits from his only performed play, a farce, '' The Reprisal; or the Tars of Old England''. After his imprisonment, he used the experience in producing another novel, '' The Life and Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves'' (1760). In 1763, Smollett was ill, perhaps with tuberculosis, and suffered the loss of his only child at the age of 15. He gave up his editorships and, with his wife Nancy, and relocated to
Continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous mainland of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by som ...
, which led to the publication of '' Travels Through France and Italy'' (1766). He also published '' The History and Adventures of an Atom'' (1769), which gave his opinion of British politics during the Seven Years' War in the guise of a tale from ancient Japan. In 1768, the year he moved to Italy, Smollett entrusted Robert Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore with selling off the slaves he still owned in Jamaica. A further visit to Scotland helped to inspire his last novel, '' The Expedition of Humphry Clinker'' (1771), published in the year of his death. He had for some time been suffering from an intestinal disorder. Having sought a cure at Bath, he retired to Italy, where he died in September 1771 and was buried in the Old English Cemetery, Livorno.


Monuments

There is a monument to his memory beside Renton Primary School,
Dunbartonshire Dunbartonshire () or the County of Dumbarton is a Shires of Scotland, historic county, lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Dunbar ...
, Scotland, on which there is a Latin inscription. The area around the monument was improved in 2002, with an explanatory plaque. After his death in Italy in 1771, his cousin Jane Smollett had the Renton monument built in 1774. It comprises a tall Tuscan column topped by an urn. On the plinth is a Latin inscription written by Professor George Stuart of Edinburgh, John Ramsay of Ochtertyre and Dr Samuel Johnson. It is a
category A listed building Category, plural categories, may refer to: General uses *Classification, the general act of allocating things to classes/categories Philosophy * Category of being * ''Categories'' (Aristotle) * Category (Kant) * Categories (Peirce) *Category (V ...
. There is also a plaque at his temporary residence in
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
, just off the
Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...
at the head of St John's Street, where his wife lived after his death until at least 1785. This states that he resided there in the house of his sister, Mrs. Telfer, for the summer of 1766. A second plaque (dating the building at 1758, making it relatively new at that time) states that he "stayed here occasionally," implying more than one visit. Smollett is one of the 16 Scottish writers and poets depicted on the lower section of the Scott Monument in
Princes Street Princes Street () is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, Edinburgh, New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three quar ...
, Edinburgh. He appears on the far left side of the east face. There are streets named after him in
Nice Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionLaurence Sterne Laurence Sterne (24 November 1713 – 18 March 1768) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican cleric. He is best known for his comic novels ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'' (1759–1767) and ''A Sentimental Journey Thro ...
, in his ''
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy ''A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy'' (1768) is a novel by Laurence Sterne. It follows the Reverend Mr. Yorick on a Picaresque novel, picaresque journey through France, narrated from a Sentimental novel, sentimental point of view. ...
'', refers to Smollett under the nickname of ''Smelfungus'', due to the snarling abuse Smollett heaped on the institutions and customs of the countries he visited and described in his '' Travels Through France and Italy''. Mr Brooke in
George Eliot Mary Ann Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880; alternatively Mary Anne or Marian), known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrot ...
's ''
Middlemarch ''Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life'' is a novel by English author George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans. It appeared in eight installments (volumes) in 1871 and 1872. Set in Middlemarch, a fictional English Midlands town, in 1829 ...
'' says to Mr Casaubon: "Or get Dorothea to read you light things, Smollett – ''Roderick Random,'' ''Humphry Clinker''. They are a little broad, but she may read anything now she's married, you know. I remember they made me laugh uncommonly – there's a droll bit about a postillion's breeches." In W. M. Thackeray's novel '' Vanity Fair'', Rebecca Sharp and Miss Rose Crawley read ''Humphry Clinker'': "Once, when Mr. Crawley asked what the young people were reading, the governess replied 'Smollett'. 'Oh, Smollett,' said Mr. Crawley, quite satisfied. 'His history is more dull, but by no means so dangerous as that of Mr. Hume. It is history you are reading?' 'Yes,' said Miss Rose; without, however, adding that it was the history of Mr. Humphry Clinker."
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
's ''
David Copperfield ''David Copperfield''Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work; see is a novel by English author Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from infancy to matur ...
'' mentions that his young protagonist counted Smollett's works among his favourites as a child. John Bellairs referenced Smollett's works in his ''Johnny Dixon'' series, where Professor Roderick Random Childermass reveals that his late father Marcus, an English professor, had named all his sons after characters in Smollett's works: Roderick Random, Peregrine Pickle, Humphry Clinker, and even "Ferdinand Count Fathom", who usually signed his name F. C. F. Childermass.
George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to a ...
praised him as "Scotland's best novelist". In
Hugh Walpole Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (13 March 18841 June 1941) was an English novelist. He was the son of an Anglican clergyman, intended for a career in the church but drawn instead to writing. Among ...
's fifth novel ''Fortitude'', the protagonist Peter refers to ''Peregrine Pickle'' as a text that inspired him to document his own memoirs.


Bibliography


Poetry

*1746: ''Advice''Cox, Michael, editor, ''The Concise Oxford Chronology of English Literature'', Oxford University Press, 2004, *1747: ''Reproof: A satire'', a sequel to ''Advice''


Minor poems

*"The Tears of Scotland" *"The Verses on a young lady playing on a harpsichord and singing" *"Love Elegy"


Odes

*"Burlesque" *"Mirth" *"Sleep" *"Leven Water" *"Blue-Eyed Ann" *"Independence"


Translations

*1748: ''The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane'', published anonymously (dated, incorrectly, "1749"), translated from the original '' L'Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane'' by Alain-René Le Sage *1755: ''The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote'', translated from the original Spanish of
Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( ; ; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelist ...
. Vol. 1:. Vol. 2:. *1761–1765: ''The Works of Voltaire'', English translation of
Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778), known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' Voltaire (, ; ), was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, philosopher (''philosophe''), satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit ...
in 35 volumes, which Smollett edited with Thomas Francklin.


Novels

*1748: ''
The Adventures of Roderick Random ''The Adventures of Roderick Random'' is a picaresque novel by Tobias Smollett, first published in 1748. It is partially based on Smollett's experience as a naval-surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, especially during the Battle of Cartagena de Ind ...
'', published anonymously *1751: '' The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'', published anonymously *1753: '' The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom'' *1762: '' The Life and Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves'', first book edition, originally serialised in ''The British Magazine'', January 1760 – December 1761 (see below) *1769: '' The History and Adventures of an Atom'' *1771: '' The Expedition of Humphry Clinker''


Plays

*1749: ''The Regicide; or, James the First, of Scotland: A tragedy'' (play) *1757: '' The Reprisal; or, The Tars of Old England: A comedy'', anonymously published; a play performed on 22 January


Non-fiction

*1756: ''A Compendium of Authentic and Entertaining Voyages'', published anonymously *1757: ''A Complete History of England, Deduced from the Descent of Julius Cæsar, to the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, 1748. Containing the Transactions of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three Years.'', in four volumes. Smollett followed this with ''Continuation of the Complete History of England'' (1760–1765, five volumes).Volume I
(1760)
Volume II
(1760)
Volume III
(1760)
Volume IV
(1761), an
Volume V
(1765).
*1766: '' Travels through France and Italy'' *1768–1769: ''The Present State of all Nations'', in eight volumes *''The Narrative of the Base and Inhuman Arts that were Lately Practised upon the Brain of Habbakkuk Hilding'' *''The Expedition against Carthagena'' *''The Dying Prediction'' *''Commentary on a Philosophical Dictionary'', ten volumes


Periodicals

*1756: Editor and co-writer, ''The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature'', a periodical published semi-annually until 1790 *Date unknown: Editor, ''Universal History'' *1760: ''The British Magazine'', a periodical published in eight volumes; Volumes 1 and 2 include the first publication of ''Launcelot Greaves'' (see below)


Radio

''The Expedition of Humphry Clinker'' was adapted for radio in three one-hour episodes in August 2008. It was dramatised by
Yvonne Antrobus Yvonne Daphne Antrobus (born 1 November 1940) is a British novelist, abridger, radio dramatist, and actress. Writing She has made over 100 abridgments and Adaptation (arts), dramatisations for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 and for independent ...
and starred Stuart McLoughlin as Clinker and
Nigel Anthony Nigel Anthony (born 23 December 1941) is an English theatre, television, narrator and radio actor. His theatre work includes ''Twelfth Night'', '' Dutch Uncle'', '' Happy End'', ''The Taming of the Shrew'' for the Royal Shakespeare Company and s ...
as Matthew Bramble.


See also

* Physician writer * Old English Cemetery, Livorno


References

*Lewis, Jeremy (Cape, 2003) ''Tobias Smollett'' * George Rousseau (1982). ''Tobias Smollett: Essays of Two Decades'' (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark) * George Rousseau (2004). ''Nervous Acts: Essays on Literature, Culture and Sensibility.'' Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. (Paperback) (Hardcover)


External links


Tobias Smollett
at th
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA)
* * *
Online editions of his works

Smollett Monument, including translation of the inscription
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smollett, Tobias 1721 births 1771 deaths 18th-century deaths from tuberculosis People from West Dunbartonshire Tuberculosis deaths in Italy Spanish–English translators Translators of Don Quixote Maritime writers 18th-century Scottish male writers 18th-century Scottish novelists 18th-century British poets Scottish poets 18th-century Scottish medical doctors Scottish surgeons Alumni of the University of Glasgow Alumni of the University of Edinburgh British expatriates in Jamaica British medical writers 18th-century Scottish historians Historians of England Scottish travel writers Scottish political writers People of the Scottish Enlightenment Royal Navy Medical Service officers Infectious disease deaths in Tuscany 18th-century Scottish translators Linguists from Jamaica Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Scottish slave owners Scottish satirists British satirical novelists