James Smeal
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Family James Smeal lived most of his life in Glasgow before making his first voyage to Australia in 1860-61 on board the Morning Light. He was born on 17 August 1837. His father, James (1798-1847), a surgeon, i.e. medical practitioner, reportedly was killed in a fall from a horse when young James was only 10 years old. Young James' mother, Jane (nee Glenny, 1801-1848) died soon afterwards. After that, James was brought up by aunts. James was the second youngest of seven children. The others were Elizabeth (1825-1826), John (b1827), Hannah (b1830), Jemima (1832-1908), Bethia (b1835), and Thomas (1842-1910). |
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Spiritual life
The Smeals were Quakers, members of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian group. From his writings, it is obvious that James Smeal's religious beliefs were a very important aspect of his life.
The Smeals were Quakers, members of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian group. From his writings, it is obvious that James Smeal's religious beliefs were a very important aspect of his life.
Education and training
In 1853 in the Senior French Class at the High School of Glasgow, James was awarded the Tennant Medal.
James studied medicine at the University of Glasgow from 1856 until 1860. He did not formally graduate from the university. Medical training at that time included formal university classes as well as an apprenticeship to a practicing surgeon. The apprentice learned the practical side of medicine directly from the master surgeon and was also required to gain knowledge in relevant disciplines including materia medica, anatomy, physiology, and surgery. The system was regulated by guilds and various faculties, which examined apprentices at particular stages of their training. University graduation was not always undertaken.
James started work as a surgeon in Edinburgh when he was 21 years old. He was in private practice in Glasgow at some time prior to his departure in 1860.
In 1853 in the Senior French Class at the High School of Glasgow, James was awarded the Tennant Medal.
James studied medicine at the University of Glasgow from 1856 until 1860. He did not formally graduate from the university. Medical training at that time included formal university classes as well as an apprenticeship to a practicing surgeon. The apprentice learned the practical side of medicine directly from the master surgeon and was also required to gain knowledge in relevant disciplines including materia medica, anatomy, physiology, and surgery. The system was regulated by guilds and various faculties, which examined apprentices at particular stages of their training. University graduation was not always undertaken.
James started work as a surgeon in Edinburgh when he was 21 years old. He was in private practice in Glasgow at some time prior to his departure in 1860.
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Australia
James' main reason for leaving Scotland at the age of 23 was to try to improve his ill health. This was attributed, at least in part, to poor air quality, which resulted from widespread burning of coal. However, a main concern was tuberculosis. At the time, it was one of the major causes of death in Glasgow. James' health improved quickly once he was out at sea where the air was clean. On 1st November, 1860, his 11th day at sea, James wrote, ' Oh! what a blessing is pure air, and what a change it has wrought on me during the last two months. When I went to Arran, 3 months ago today, I was thin, weak, unhealthy, and altogether quite a different person.' Further mention of Arran suggests that he probably spent some time on that 'beautiful and romantic island' before leaving Liverpool on board the Morning Light. On 4th December, 1860, after more than six weeks at sea he wrote, 'I am growing so stout and strong that if I go on at the same rate, when I get home I will not be known at all.' So at that time his intention did not seem to be to migrate to Australia, but just to visit.
Following his return to Australia in 1861 after surviving a shipwreck on the way to Fiji, James then intended to start a medical practice in Tarraville, Gippsland. He subsequently practiced medicine, both as a resident surgeon at Ararat Hospital and privately in Ararat, Victoria, where he spent much of his working life.
Later, a patient recalled that when she was young, James Smeal was in private practice with a surgery in the main street of Ararat. He was their family doctor and had delivered her father into the world in 1873. She remembered James Smeal's red hair and red beard, and that he was a well-respected, aristocratic man who walked with a stick. When out in public, he always wore a top hat and tails.
James Smeal returned to Scotland at least once, as that is where he married his second wife, Eliza. In later life, James and his third wife, Florance, lived in Malvern, Victoria. For a regular holiday he enjoyed taking a train trip to Forsayth in Queensland.
Marriages
James married for the first time in Melbourne, Victoria, on 16 July 1861, when he was almost 24 (though the certificate states that he was 25). His wife, Louisa Reynolds, aged 41, was born in St Just, Cornwall. His profession was described as Doctor of Medicine, hers as Private Life. There was a passenger by the name of Louisa Reynolds, aged 44, on board the Morning Light during the voyage on which James Smeal was Surgeon. Presumably Louisa the passenger and Louisa James' wife were the same person, despite the difference in her reported age (41 vs 44). The wedding took place only a few months after their arrival in Australia and shortly after James was shipwrecked on board the cutter, Eliza. The marriage lasted only six years as Louisa died in Ararat Hospital on 22 August, 1867. For further information about Louisa Reynolds, please see the Glossary.
James married for the second time on 17th September 1874, when he was 37. The wedding was held in Glasgow, at the home of his bride, Eliza Thomson Millar, aged 33. The marriage certificate states that James' usual residence was Ararat, Australia. Possibly he had returned to Glasgow in order to marry Eliza. He had known her and her family for many years. The couple returned to Australia, but this marriage also lasted only six years as Eliza died in October 1880.
James' third and last wedding was on 3rd November 1886. Florance McNeill, aged 26 (b30 July 1860), was his bride. Her birth place and usual residence was Ararat and her profession, Lady. At that time the residence of the 49-year-old James was recorded as Charlton, Victoria. After their marriage, the couple lived in Ararat, where James continued to practice medicine. James and Florance had two sons, James Alexander (1887-1972) and Glenny (1889 or 1890-1974).
James married for the first time in Melbourne, Victoria, on 16 July 1861, when he was almost 24 (though the certificate states that he was 25). His wife, Louisa Reynolds, aged 41, was born in St Just, Cornwall. His profession was described as Doctor of Medicine, hers as Private Life. There was a passenger by the name of Louisa Reynolds, aged 44, on board the Morning Light during the voyage on which James Smeal was Surgeon. Presumably Louisa the passenger and Louisa James' wife were the same person, despite the difference in her reported age (41 vs 44). The wedding took place only a few months after their arrival in Australia and shortly after James was shipwrecked on board the cutter, Eliza. The marriage lasted only six years as Louisa died in Ararat Hospital on 22 August, 1867. For further information about Louisa Reynolds, please see the Glossary.
James married for the second time on 17th September 1874, when he was 37. The wedding was held in Glasgow, at the home of his bride, Eliza Thomson Millar, aged 33. The marriage certificate states that James' usual residence was Ararat, Australia. Possibly he had returned to Glasgow in order to marry Eliza. He had known her and her family for many years. The couple returned to Australia, but this marriage also lasted only six years as Eliza died in October 1880.
James' third and last wedding was on 3rd November 1886. Florance McNeill, aged 26 (b30 July 1860), was his bride. Her birth place and usual residence was Ararat and her profession, Lady. At that time the residence of the 49-year-old James was recorded as Charlton, Victoria. After their marriage, the couple lived in Ararat, where James continued to practice medicine. James and Florance had two sons, James Alexander (1887-1972) and Glenny (1889 or 1890-1974).
Florance and James Smeal
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Photo of James Smeal taken by Stewart & Co of Bourke Street Melbourne on 12 June 1912. Photo provided by State Records NSW. Final days It was during a trip from his then home in Malvern, Victoria, to Queensland, that James died in Cairns at 9.30 p.m. on 9 May, 1917, aged 79. He was on his way to Forsayth, a favourite holiday place. Florance had stayed at home. She lived for almost another 25 years until 27 March 1942, when she was aged 82. |
References
Much of the above information comes from documents provided by James Smeal's son, James Alexander Smeal.
The Whigham Family website was useful for some details regarding James Smeal's siblings: http://community.dur.ac.uk/j.d.little/family/Wigham.html
Further information was found in Marjorie and William Oats. A biographical index of Quakers in Australia before 1862. Hobart, Tasmania, the authors, 1982
The Duty Archivist at the University of Glasgow kindly supplied information about James Smeal's study of medicine at the University and the methods of medical training of the time.
Details of health conditions in Glasgow in the nineteenth century were obtained from A history of the Scottish people, by WW Knox. Chapter 10: Health in Scotland 1840-1940. http://www.scran.ac.uk/scotland/pdf/SP2_3Health.pdf
Much of the above information comes from documents provided by James Smeal's son, James Alexander Smeal.
The Whigham Family website was useful for some details regarding James Smeal's siblings: http://community.dur.ac.uk/j.d.little/family/Wigham.html
Further information was found in Marjorie and William Oats. A biographical index of Quakers in Australia before 1862. Hobart, Tasmania, the authors, 1982
The Duty Archivist at the University of Glasgow kindly supplied information about James Smeal's study of medicine at the University and the methods of medical training of the time.
Details of health conditions in Glasgow in the nineteenth century were obtained from A history of the Scottish people, by WW Knox. Chapter 10: Health in Scotland 1840-1940. http://www.scran.ac.uk/scotland/pdf/SP2_3Health.pdf
