Albert Richard Smith

Albert Richard Smith (24 May 1816 - 23 May 1860), was an English author, entertainer, and mountaineer.

Biography

Smith was born at Chertsey, Surrey. He studied medicine in London and in Paris, and his first literary effort was an account of his life there, which appeared in the "Mirror". He gradually abandoned his medical work in favour of writing. Though a journalist rather than a literary figure, he was one of the most popular of his time, and a favourite humorist. He was one of the early contributors to "Punch" and was also a regular contributor to Richard Bentley's "Miscellany", in whose pages his first and best book, "The Adventures of Mr Ledbury", appeared in 1842. His other books were, "Christopher Tadpole" (1848), issued in monthly parts, "Potteton's Legacy" (1849), and a series of so-called natural histories, "The Gent", "The Ballet Girl", "The Idler upon Town" and "The Flirt". Albert Smith also wrote extravaganzas and adapted some of Charles Dickens's stories for the stage. He founded and edited a monthly magazine called "The Man in the Moon", from 1847 to 1849.

In 1851 he ascended Mont Blanc, and the year after produced at the Egyptian Hall a descriptive entertainment, which he called "Mont Blanc," describing the ascent of the mountain and the Englishman abroad. Smith's Mont Blanc show ran for 2000 performances over six years and helped to popularize mountain climbing in mid-Victorian Britain. He was one of the founder members of the Alpine Club in 1857. Smith traveled to Hong Kong in 1858 and followed his Mont Blanc entertainment with a similar show about the overland route to China between 1858-1860. Smith married in 1859 Mary, a daughter of Robert Keeley, the comedian. He died in Fulham, London. Smith received great help from his brother, Arthur WW Smith (1825-1861), who had also been educated in medicine and who managed the entertainments at the Egyptian Hall from 1852 to 1860. Arthur also planned Charles Dickens's readings in 1858, and made arrangements for a second series, but died before they were completed.

References

*Peter H. Hansen, ‘Smith, Albert Richard (1816–1860)’, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25768 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography] , Oxford University Press, 2004
*1911
*A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature