James Elishama Smith
Encyclopedia
James Elishama Smith, often called Shepherd Smith (1801, Glasgow
– 1857, Glasgow
) was a British
journalist
and religious writer.
Smith studied at Glasgow University. Hearing Edward Irving
preach in 1828, he became a millenarian and associated with followers of Joanna Southcott
. For a couple of years he became a Christian Israelite
under John Wroe
. He moved to London
in 1832, and his millenarianism turned socialist
. He translated Saint-Simon
, edited Robert Owen
's journal Crisis, and wrote for James Morrison's Pioneer.
Smith edited The Shepherd 1834–5 and 1837–8, and wrote leaders for the Penny Satirist. In 1843 he founded a penny weekly, the Family Herald
, which at one point approached a circulation of half a million.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
– 1857, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and religious writer.
Smith studied at Glasgow University. Hearing Edward Irving
Edward Irving
*For Edward Irving, the Canadian geologist, see Edward A. Irving.Edward Irving was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church.-Youth:...
preach in 1828, he became a millenarian and associated with followers of Joanna Southcott
Joanna Southcott
Joanna Southcott , was a self-described religious prophetess. She was born at Gittisham in Devon, England.-Self-revelation:...
. For a couple of years he became a Christian Israelite
Christian Israelite Church
The Christian Israelite Church was founded in 1822 by the prophet John Wroe in England. From 1822 to 1831, the church had its headquarters in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, which the church wanted to turn into a "new Jerusalem". Wroe's followers intended to build a wall around the town...
under John Wroe
John Wroe
John Wroe was a British evangelist who founded the Christian Israelite Church in the 1820s after having what he believed were a series of visions.- Biography :...
. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1832, and his millenarianism turned socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. He translated Saint-Simon
Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon
Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon, often referred to as Henri de Saint-Simon was a French early socialist theorist whose thought influenced the foundations of various 19th century philosophies; perhaps most notably Marxism, positivism and the discipline of sociology...
, edited Robert Owen
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
's journal Crisis, and wrote for James Morrison's Pioneer.
Smith edited The Shepherd 1834–5 and 1837–8, and wrote leaders for the Penny Satirist. In 1843 he founded a penny weekly, the Family Herald
Family Herald
The Family Herald: A Domestic Magazine of Useful Information & Amusement was a weekly story paper established by James Elishama Smith in 1843. Initially a penny weekly, it later sold at 2d...
, which at one point approached a circulation of half a million.
Works
- The Anti-Christ, or, Christianity Reformed, 1833
- The Divine Drama of History and Civilization, 1854
- The Coming Man, 1873
External links
- Timothy C. F. Stunt, ‘Smith, James Elishama (Shepherd Smith) (1801–1857)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004