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Sydney Smith: Wikimedia Commons
Syndney Smith (1771-1845) was an Anglican cleric, writer, and notable wit. He also founded the Edinburgh Review and lectured at the Royal Institution. He left Edinburgh in 1803 to settle in London, becoming a popular and well known preacher, lecturer, and Society man. He is also remembered for his rhyming recipe for salad dressing:
Margaret C Sullivan, noted Jane Austen expert, has speculated Smith may be the inspiration for Henry Tilney, of Northanger Abbey.
While in London, Smith began his lectures at the Royal Institution, attracting broad crowds to listen to his progressive speeches on everything from the education of women, to the aboltion of slavery. Smith left London in 1809 for Yorkshire, writing Peter Plymley’s Letters which was an explosive tome on Catholic emancipation. Smith would make a few additional moves, before he inherited 50,000 pounds on the death of his brother Courtenay.
Smith was known to suffer from bouts of depression, but would offer charming advice to others on melancholy: