Ellen Smyly
Encyclopedia
Ellen Smyly was born on 14 November 1815, the daughter of Matthew Franks. She became a prominent philanthropist, fund-raising and setting up homes and schools for the poor. The Smyly Homes and subsequent Smyly Trust are named after her and her family.
At the age of 19 she married the Dublin surgeon Josiah Smyly F.R.C.S.I. (1803-1864). Touched by the poverty and destitution in the city she began her charity work.
In 1852 she set up her first bible school in dublin, and by the 1870s had set up a number of schools and residential homes. Mrs Smyly or her daughters sat on the boards of most of these institutions.
With the assistance of Rev. Alexander Dallas she set up a school in a loft in Townsend St., and children of this home received schooling and food from his Irish Church Mission
. A member of the Church of Ireland
, her humanitarian mission was influenced by her religious beliefs.
She set up a residential home for boys and one for girls, and then 1859 the Birds Nest in Dun Laoghaire for infants, her homes and organisation known as The Smyly Mission Homes and Ragged Schools of Dublin cared for over 1000 children at this time.
Smyly was involved in the The Irish Church Missionaries Ragged School in the Coombe opened initially in 1853 in Weaver's Hall, later moved to Newmarket St. it was opened by Rev. Dallas of the ICM. It closed in 1944 and children were moved to the Smyly home in Monkstown.
Her homes are believed to have inspired the Dublin-born Dr. Thomas John Barnardo
in setting up his homes.
In the 1870s, in connection with Annie Macpherson
, children were sent to Canada from the Smyly homes in Dublin, similar to arrangements with English and Scottish homes.
Mrs Smyly died aged 86 on 16 May 1901, and the running of her homes was turned over to her daughters Annie Dallas Smyly (1855-1933) and her namesake Ellen Smyly (1846-1912). In 1905 her daughters set up a Smyly home called The Coombe Home in Hespeler in Ontario, Canada. In 1917 the Hespeler Home was transferred to the Christian Aid Mission.
She is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
in Dublin.
Her third son Sir William Josiah Smyly (1850-1941), followed in her husband's medical career and was master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Her eldest son, Sir Philip Smyly, similar to his father, was a surgeon.
At the age of 19 she married the Dublin surgeon Josiah Smyly F.R.C.S.I. (1803-1864). Touched by the poverty and destitution in the city she began her charity work.
In 1852 she set up her first bible school in dublin, and by the 1870s had set up a number of schools and residential homes. Mrs Smyly or her daughters sat on the boards of most of these institutions.
With the assistance of Rev. Alexander Dallas she set up a school in a loft in Townsend St., and children of this home received schooling and food from his Irish Church Mission
Irish Church Missions
The Irish Church Mission to the Roman Catholics is a conservative and semi-autonomous Anglican mission. It was founded in 1849 chiefly by English Anglicans with the backing and support of the Church of Ireland clergy and Bishops.-History:...
. A member of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
, her humanitarian mission was influenced by her religious beliefs.
She set up a residential home for boys and one for girls, and then 1859 the Birds Nest in Dun Laoghaire for infants, her homes and organisation known as The Smyly Mission Homes and Ragged Schools of Dublin cared for over 1000 children at this time.
Smyly was involved in the The Irish Church Missionaries Ragged School in the Coombe opened initially in 1853 in Weaver's Hall, later moved to Newmarket St. it was opened by Rev. Dallas of the ICM. It closed in 1944 and children were moved to the Smyly home in Monkstown.
Her homes are believed to have inspired the Dublin-born Dr. Thomas John Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo was a philanthropist and founder and director of homes for poor children, born in Dublin. From the foundation of the first Barnardo's home in 1870 to the date of Barnardo’s death, nearly 100,000 children had been rescued, trained and given a better life.- Early life :Barnardo...
in setting up his homes.
In the 1870s, in connection with Annie Macpherson
Annie Macpherson
Annie MacPherson was born in Campsie by Milton, Stirlingshire, in Scotland and educated at the Home and Colonial Training College in Gray's Inn Road, London. She is a philanthropist who is accepted as the pioneer of child emigration to Canada....
, children were sent to Canada from the Smyly homes in Dublin, similar to arrangements with English and Scottish homes.
Mrs Smyly died aged 86 on 16 May 1901, and the running of her homes was turned over to her daughters Annie Dallas Smyly (1855-1933) and her namesake Ellen Smyly (1846-1912). In 1905 her daughters set up a Smyly home called The Coombe Home in Hespeler in Ontario, Canada. In 1917 the Hespeler Home was transferred to the Christian Aid Mission.
She is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
in Dublin.
Her third son Sir William Josiah Smyly (1850-1941), followed in her husband's medical career and was master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Her eldest son, Sir Philip Smyly, similar to his father, was a surgeon.