Sir Thomas Smith (1513 - 1577)

Sir Thomas Smith (1513 – 1577)

Amongst the important gifts to Queens' made in 1577 was the collection of Latin and Greek books belonging to Sir Thomas Smith. The Smith collection, originally some 90 volumes, represents the largest single collection from the library of one individual now extant from Renaissance England.

Sir Thomas Smith was born at Walden in Essex on 23rd December 1513. He entered Queens’ aged twelve and five years later he was elected as a Fellow. In 1540 he was appointed as the first Professor of Civil Law and demonstrated his talent for administration when he negotiated the transfer to the College of the site of Friars' Court from the Carmelites. He became Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary of State under Edward VI and Elizabeth I.

At his death he left the College his astrological globe, all his Latin and Greek books, a fund for lectureships in arithmetic and geometry and money “to amende the cheer of the fellows and scholars” which is still used for the annual Smith Feast.

 

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