Saumarez Smith

Who was Saumarez Smith?

William Saumarez Smith was an Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Australia.

Smith was born in Saint Helier, Jersey the eldest twin son of the Lieutenant Richard Snowden Smith and his wife Anne, née Robin. Smith was educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. with first-class honours in classics and theology in 1858. He was Crosse theological scholar in 1859, Tyrwhitt Hebrew scholar in 1860, and on two occasions won the Seatonian prize for poetry. He graduated M.A. in 1862, B.D. in 1871, D.D. in 1889, and was a fellow of Trinity College, 1860-70.

Smith was ordained a deacon on 19 June 1859 and priest on 3 Jun 1860; he was vicar of Trumpington, 1867–69, and principal of St Aidan's Theological College, 1869-90. He was consecrated bishop of Sydney and Primate of Australia at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 24 June 1890, and became Archbishop in 1897. At Sydney his episcopate was notable mainly for a great increase in missionary work, and the home mission fund was also established. There was some advance in education; Moore Theological College was reopened, and the Church of England Grammar School For Girls was established in his period.