Thomas Assheton Smith
Encyclopedia
Thomas Assheton Smith (1752 – 12 May 1828) was an English landowner and all-round sportsman who played a major part in the development of the Welsh slate industry
.
Smith was the son of Thomas Assheton of Ashley
in Cheshire
. He added "Smith" to his surname when he inherited the Vaynol
and Tidworth
estates from his uncle, William Smith. He was High Sheriff of Caernarfonshire
in 1783-4 and Member of Parliament for the county from 1774 to 1780. Assheton Smith was also MP for the English borough of Andover
between 1797 and 1821.
In 1806 he was able to get Parliament to pass an act enclosing the common land of Llanddeiniolen parish, greatly adding to his land holdings. In 1809 he took over control of slate quarrying on his estate, forming a company of four under his presidency. The company was later dissolved and he took over sole control of the enterprise. By 1826 the Dinorwic Quarry
was employing 800 men and producing 20,000 tons of slate per year. Assheton Smith developed Port Dinorwic (Y Felinheli
) as a port for the export of the slates.
. He was a close friend of George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
and became one of cricket's main patrons following the establishment of MCC
in 1787. Smith was not a good player, unlike his son, but is known to have taken part in 45 major matches between the 1787
and 1796 seasons
. In the contemporary scorecards, he is generally shown as "A Smith, Esq." whereas his son was usually recorded as "T A Smith, Esq.".
(1776–1858), who was also a noted amateur cricketer and all-round sportsman.
Slate industry in Wales
The slate industry in Wales began during the Roman period when slate was used to roof the fort at Segontium, now Caernarfon. The slate industry grew slowly until the early 18th century, then expanded rapidly until the late 19th century, at which time the most important slate producing areas were in...
.
Smith was the son of Thomas Assheton of Ashley
Ashley, Cheshire
Ashley is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 261. The village is at a crossroads close to the border of Cheshire with Greater Manchester, and is just to the south...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He added "Smith" to his surname when he inherited the Vaynol
Vaynol
Vaynol or Y Faenol , is a country estate dating from the Tudor period, near Y Felinheli in Gwynedd, North Wales . There are of park, farmland, and gardens on the estate, with over thirty listed buildings, surrounded by a wall which is long...
and Tidworth
Tidworth
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
estates from his uncle, William Smith. He was High Sheriff of Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
in 1783-4 and Member of Parliament for the county from 1774 to 1780. Assheton Smith was also MP for the English borough of Andover
Andover (UK Parliament constituency)
Andover was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1295 to 1307, and again from 1586, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was a parliamentary borough in Hampshire,...
between 1797 and 1821.
In 1806 he was able to get Parliament to pass an act enclosing the common land of Llanddeiniolen parish, greatly adding to his land holdings. In 1809 he took over control of slate quarrying on his estate, forming a company of four under his presidency. The company was later dissolved and he took over sole control of the enterprise. By 1826 the Dinorwic Quarry
Dinorwic Quarry
The Dinorwic Slate Quarry is a large former slate quarry, now home to the Welsh National Slate Museum, located between the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig in north Wales. It was the second largest slate quarry in Wales, indeed in the world, after the neighbouring Penrhyn Quarry....
was employing 800 men and producing 20,000 tons of slate per year. Assheton Smith developed Port Dinorwic (Y Felinheli
Y Felinheli
Y Felinheli is a village lying beside the Menai Strait between Bangor and Caernarfon in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The population is about 2,200.-Etymology:...
) as a port for the export of the slates.
Cricket
Thomas Assheton Smith was a keen sportsman and was particularly noted for his involvement in cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. He was a close friend of George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea KG PC FRS was an important figure in the history of cricket. His main contributions to the game were patronage and organisation but Winchilsea, an amateur, was also a very keen player....
and became one of cricket's main patrons following the establishment of MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in 1787. Smith was not a good player, unlike his son, but is known to have taken part in 45 major matches between the 1787
1787 English cricket season
The 1787 English cricket season is widely seen as a watershed in the history of cricket for it marked the sport's transition from an essentially rural game into an urban and metropolitan one....
and 1796 seasons
1796 English cricket season
In the 1796 English cricket season, the Montpelier town club became prominent and played a number of matches over the next few seasons against MCC...
. In the contemporary scorecards, he is generally shown as "A Smith, Esq." whereas his son was usually recorded as "T A Smith, Esq.".
Family
Assheton Smith married Elizabeth, daughter of Watkin Wynn of Foelas. He died at Tidworth in 1828, and the Vaynol estate was inherited by his namesake second son, Thomas Assheton Smith (the younger)Thomas Assheton Smith II
Thomas Assheton Smith was an English landowner and all-round sportsman who was notable for being one of the outstanding amateur cricketers of the early 19th century. He was a Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1821 to 1837...
(1776–1858), who was also a noted amateur cricketer and all-round sportsman.