Stanley le Blanc Smith
Encyclopedia
Stanley le Blanc Smith was an English rower
who won several events at Henley Royal Regatta
including Silver Goblets.
Smith was born at Barnet
, Hertfordshire
, the son of Rev. Thomas Tunstall Smith then curate there, who became vicar of Wirksworth for 42 years, and his wife Lucy Mary le Blanc. He was educated at Rossall School
and at University College, Oxford
. Though he rowed at Oxford, he was only a reserve for the Oxford
crews in the Boat Race. After university, he joined the London Stock Exchange.
Smith, nicknamed "Slebs", joined London Rowing Club
and was a member of the crews that won the Stewards' Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
every year from 1872 to 1878. He also won Silver Goblets in 1876 with Francis Gulston
although in 1877 with Frank Lumley Playford
, he was runner up to James Hastie
and W H Eyre of Thames Rowing Club
. In 1878 Smith was the first secretary of the Metropolitan Rowing Association, which was to become the Amateur Rowing Association
Smith was on the management committee for the 1908 Summer Olympics
where the rowing events were held at Henley. He died in the Wandsworth district in 1922,
Smith married Amy Harris at Kendal in 1880 and had three sons. Their youngest son, Maurice Le Blanc-Smith was a World War I
flying ace
.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who won several events at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
including Silver Goblets.
Smith was born at Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, the son of Rev. Thomas Tunstall Smith then curate there, who became vicar of Wirksworth for 42 years, and his wife Lucy Mary le Blanc. He was educated at Rossall School
Rossall School
Rossall School is a British, co-educational, independent school, between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. Rossall was founded in 1844 by St. Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year...
and at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
. Though he rowed at Oxford, he was only a reserve for the Oxford
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
crews in the Boat Race. After university, he joined the London Stock Exchange.
Smith, nicknamed "Slebs", joined London Rowing Club
London Rowing Club
London Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom.It is regarded as one of the most exclusive and successful rowing clubs in Britain. and its Patron is HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh....
and was a member of the crews that won the Stewards' Challenge Cup
Stewards' Challenge Cup
The Stewards' Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two or more clubs may combine to make an entry....
at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
every year from 1872 to 1878. He also won Silver Goblets in 1876 with Francis Gulston
Francis Gulston
Francis Stepney Gulston was an English rower who at Henley Royal Regatta won the Grand Challenge Cup five times, the Stewards' Challenge Cup ten times, and the Silver Goblets five times....
although in 1877 with Frank Lumley Playford
Frank Lumley Playford
Frank Lumley Playford was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls five times and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1876....
, he was runner up to James Hastie
James Hastie
James Hastie was a British rower who won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta three times.Hastie was born at sea, and became a brewers agent in London. He was a member of Thames Rowing Club where he was a long standing captain. In 1877 Hastie with W Eyre won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal...
and W H Eyre of Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club
Thames Rowing Club is a rowing club situated on the River Thames in Putney, London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1860.-Club colours:Red, white and black in stripes, the white stripe lying between the red and black and being of half their width....
. In 1878 Smith was the first secretary of the Metropolitan Rowing Association, which was to become the Amateur Rowing Association
Smith was on the management committee for the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
where the rowing events were held at Henley. He died in the Wandsworth district in 1922,
Smith married Amy Harris at Kendal in 1880 and had three sons. Their youngest son, Maurice Le Blanc-Smith was a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
.