John Smith (vegetarian)
John Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | August 13, 1870 (aged 74–75) Malton, England |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, author, vegetarianism advocate, spiritualist |
| Years active | 1835–1870 |
| Known for | Advocacy of vegetarianism, directing York City and County Bank |
| Notable work | Fruits and Farinacea (1845), The Principles and Practice of Vegetarian Cookery (1860) |
John Smith ( – 13 August 1870) was an English banker, proponent of vegetarianism, author, and spiritualist. Residing in Malton, he directed the York City and County Bank for thirty years and served as a representative for the London Assurance Company. As a leading figure in 19th-century British vegetarianism, Smith presided over the Hull Vegetarian Association and actively promoted dietary reform through public talks and written works such as Fruits and Farinacea (1845) and The Principles and Practice of Vegetarian Cookery (1860). Additionally, he engaged with the spiritualist movement and took part in the 1849 Paris Peace Conference.
Early life and career
Born around 1795 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, Smith eventually established himself in Malton. He held the position of manager at the York City and County Bank located there for three decades and acted as an agent for the London Assurance Company.
Advocacy
Smith embraced a vegetarian lifestyle circa 1835 after reading a paper that highlighted animals’ intellectual and emotional faculties. He was present at the inaugural annual meeting of the Vegetarian Society in 1848, which inspired the creation of a vegetarian association in Malton that same year. In 1855, he delivered lectures in York and assumed the presidency of the Hull Vegetarian Association in 1856, where he influenced local press outlets to incorporate vegetarian principles.
During an 1850 meeting of the Vegetarian Society, Smith supported the inclusion of animal-derived foods such as milk and eggs during transitional stages toward full vegetarianism. He promoted a diet centered on fruits and grains as optimal while acknowledging practical difficulties in complete adherence.
Writings
Smith authored Fruits and Farinacea in 1845, advocating vegetarianism and dedicating it to Dr William Lambe, a prominent diet reformer. The publication attracted considerable media attention. A New York edition followed in 1854, edited by American physician Russell Thacher Trall. After Smith’s death, an abridged version was issued in 1873 under the editorship of Francis William Newman.
In 1860, Smith released The Principles and Practice of Vegetarian Cookery, a lacto-ovo vegetarian cookbook commissioned by and dedicated to James Simpson. Its second edition appeared in 1866 titled Vegetable Cookery, broadening its scope to include recipes for pastries, preserves, pickles, sauces, soups, and drinks.
Other interests
Beyond dietary advocacy, Smith gave lectures on scientific subjects and spiritualism. He also participated in the Paris Peace Conference of 1849.
Personal life and death
Smith was married to Mary Smith. He passed away at his residence, The Mount in Malton, on 13 August 1870 at age 75. In tribute, several local businesses closed during his funeral day.
Legacy
Fruits and Farinacea inspired Scottish vegetarian activist John Davie to adopt vegetarianism. In his 1898 publication Fifty Years of Food Reform, historian Charles W. Forward described it as "the most comprehensive and complete work on the subject published in England up to that date." Historian James Gregory also acknowledged the book as a "major text" within the vegetarian movement.