Richard Smyth (minister)
Encyclopedia
Richard Smyth was a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and politician.
Smyth, son of Hugh Smyth of Bushmills
, County Antrim
, by Sarah Anne, daughter of J. Wray, was born at Dervock
, County Antrim, on 4 Oct. 1826. He was educated at the University of Bonn
and at the University of Glasgow
, where he graduated M.A. in 1850, and received the honorary D.D. and LL.D. degrees in 1867.
For eight years he was assistant-collegiate minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Londonderry, and in 1865 was appointed professor of oriental languages and biblical literature in Magee College
, Londonderry. In 1870 he became Dill professor of theology in the same college. He was a supporter of Gladstone's policy of disestablishment in Ireland, and in 1869 was raised to the moderatorship of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church. In 1870 he was re-elected moderator, and took an active part in settling the financial affairs of the church in connection with the withdrawal of the Regium Donum
. He was one of the trustees incorporated by royal charter under the Presbyterian Church Act for administering the commutation fund.
He supported the Irish University Bill
of 1873, and, as a Liberal
, was elected member of parliament for County Londonderry
on 16 Feb. 1874 to support the general policy of Mr. Gladstone
's administration, especially with respect to land tenure and grand jury reform.
He sat until his death, which took place at Antrim road, Belfast, on 4 Dec. 1878. He was buried at Dervock on 6 Dec.
Smyth, son of Hugh Smyth of Bushmills
Bushmills
Bushmills is a village on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bushmills had 1,319 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. It is located 95 km from Belfast, 10 km from Ballycastle and 15 km from Coleraine...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, by Sarah Anne, daughter of J. Wray, was born at Dervock
Dervock
Dervock is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is about 6km northeast of Ballymoney, on the banks of the Dervock River.-Features:...
, County Antrim, on 4 Oct. 1826. He was educated at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
and at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, where he graduated M.A. in 1850, and received the honorary D.D. and LL.D. degrees in 1867.
For eight years he was assistant-collegiate minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Londonderry, and in 1865 was appointed professor of oriental languages and biblical literature in Magee College
Magee College
Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster located in Derry, Northern Ireland. It opened in 1865 as a Presbyterian Christian arts and theological college...
, Londonderry. In 1870 he became Dill professor of theology in the same college. He was a supporter of Gladstone's policy of disestablishment in Ireland, and in 1869 was raised to the moderatorship of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church. In 1870 he was re-elected moderator, and took an active part in settling the financial affairs of the church in connection with the withdrawal of the Regium Donum
Regium Donum
The Regium Donum was an annual grant formerly voted by Parliament to augment the stipends of the Presbyterian clergy in Ireland. The Regium Donum originally began in 1673 during the reign of Charles II. The grant was then renewed and increased by King William III in 1690 as a reward for the loyalty...
. He was one of the trustees incorporated by royal charter under the Presbyterian Church Act for administering the commutation fund.
He supported the Irish University Bill
Irish University Bill
The Irish University Bill formed part of the panorama of initiatives to provide more adequate provision of university education in Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries.The Bill was announced by British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone in February 1873...
of 1873, and, as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, was elected member of parliament for County Londonderry
Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)
Londonderry was a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also a constituency in elections to various regional bodies. It was replaced in boundary changes in 1983...
on 16 Feb. 1874 to support the general policy of Mr. Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
's administration, especially with respect to land tenure and grand jury reform.
He sat until his death, which took place at Antrim road, Belfast, on 4 Dec. 1878. He was buried at Dervock on 6 Dec.