George Smith (historian)
George Smith (31 August 1800 – 30 August 1868) was an English businessman, historian and theologian. He is now best known for historical work relating to the Methodist conference. Life. Born at Condurrow, near Camborne, Cornwall, on 31 August 1800, he was the son of William Smith, a carpenter and small farmer at Condurrow (died 1852), by his wife, Philippa Moneypenny (died 1834). He was educated at the British and Foreign schools in Falmouth, and in Plymouth where his father retired in 1808, when the lease of his farm expired. In 1812 he returned with his parents to  Cornwall, and was employed for several years in farm work and carpentering. Having accumulated a small sum of money, he became a builder in 1824. Smith then became a business partner of William Bickford, his father-in-law. He took out patents for improvements in safety fuses, by himself or with others, and built up a fortune in business. He was chairman of the Cornwall Railway to January 1864, overseeing the construction of the line from Plymouth to Truro and Falmouth. He was known locally also for his powers of speaking and lecturing, in 1823 became a local preacher for  the Wesleyan Methodists, and was seen as one of their leading laymen. He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, of the Society of Antiquaries of London (23 December 1841), of the Royal Society of Literature, and of the Irish Archaeological Society. In 1859 he was created LL.D. of New York. Smith died at his house, Trevu, Camborne, on 30 August 1868, and was buried in the Wesleyan Centenary Chapel cemetery on 4 September. His widow died at Trevu on 4 March 1886, aged 81, and was buried in the same cemetery on 9 March. Works. The writings of  Smith included: Family. Smith married at Camborne church, on 31 October 1826, Elizabeth Burrall, youngest daughter of William Bickford and Susan Burrall. They had four children, the eldest of whom, William Bickford-Smith, represented in parliament the division of Cornwall from 1885 to 1892. Notes. Attribution