William James Smith, M.a., F.hist.s. (1913-2006)

摘要

William Smith was born into an artisan family; his father working at one time in a factory making spectacle frames. At about 11 years of age, William Smith won a scholarship to Tiffins Grammar School in Kingston upon Thames, but his parents decided to emigrate to America the following year. The venture in the USA having finished, they returned to England, only to find that Tiffins either could not or would not re-admit their son. Thus he was forced to enter the world of work as a 'gateboy'. This meant opening and shutting gates for incoming and outgoing lorries delivering supplies to his place of employment. He was subsequently an office boy at the same firm and sometime later was promoted to office typist. It is believed he taught himself to type and to understand shorthand.