William Smith: The Family Man
curated by the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and with thanks to Dr Nina Morgan, author of The Geology of Oxford Gravestones, for her help and advice
This exhibition showed us the man behind the geologist. Having published the first geological map of England and Wales, William Smith (1769-1839) is recognised as the Father of English Geology. But it did not stop there. After his sister’s death he brought up her children and instilled in them his love of geology. The elder son, John Phillips, eventually became the first keeper of OUMNH, and Anne, the only daughter, was her brother’s companion and constant support for 33 years.
We have access to a series of 51 personal letters written between 1819 and 1839, transcribed by Nina Morgan, which among other things reveal the close and loving relationship he had with both John and Anne Phillips right up to his death.
William Smith was also an amateur poet, and enjoyed sketching, as the above portrait of his mother shows.