Phrenology Research Environment

SMITH, Joshua Toulmin (1816-1869)

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Metadata

Born: 1816

Died: 1869

Editorial Description

eldest son of W. Hawkes SMITH; articled to a Birmingham solicitor, 1832; student at Lincoln's Inn, 1835, called to the bar, 1849; a student of literature and philosophy with an interest in economics and educational reform; he taught with his father at the Birmingham Mechanics' Inst, lecturing there on phrenology, 1835; inspired by H. MARTINEAU'S account of the United States, he emigrated to Michigan, 1835, where he tried but failed to earn a living by writing and lecturing on phrenology; returned to England in 1842 and continued his legal studies; became a noted constitutional lawyer opposing government centralization and founded the weekly Parliamentary Remembrancer ; first pres Geologists' Assn, 1859; M LONDON PHREN SOC; M PHREN ASSN from Aug 1839, being one of its secretaries; corresponded with G. COMBE, 1836-50. (DNB; MEB; J in America, 1837-8, ed F. B. Streeter [1925])

Works as Listed by Roger Cooter (1989)

• 1046.1 — 1046.1 "On the Progressive Diffusion of Phrenology," PHREN J, 10 (1836/7): 346-52, 400-13. (A very useful article expos ing its popularization beyond literary reaches.)
• 1046.2 — 1046.2 "Case in which the Power of Correctly Appreciating Magnitude and Distance was Impaired," PHREN J, 10 (1836/7): 494-6.
• 1046.3 — 1046.3 Phrenology Vindicated: being a reply to an article which appeared in 'The Quarterly Review' for September 1836, with Introductory Observations on the Science in General. London: Longman & Co, 1836. Pp. 80. (Reviewed PHREN J, 10 [1836/7]: 381-2.)
• 1046.4 — 1046.4 A Popular View of the Progress of Philosophy Among the Ancients: including the Early Barbaric Philosophy; the Ancient Jewish Sects; and the Grecian Philosophic Schools of the Ionic Division. London: Longman & Co, 1836. Pp. 454. (Dedicated to G. COMBE, seen here as the greatest philosopher of the day; phrenological delineations of Plato, Zeno, et al.; reviewed PHREN J, 10 [1836/7]: 272-83.)
• 1046.5 — 1046.5 The Reasonableness of Phrenology; comprising a sketch of the Origin, Progress, Principles, Proofs, and Tendencies of that Science: together with a notice of the objections by which it has been opposed. London: Effingham Wilson, 1837. Pp. 33. (Reviewed PHREN J, 10 [1836/7]: 624-6.)
• 1046.6 — 1046.6 Synopsis of Phrenology; directed chiefly to the Exhibition of the Utility and Application of the Science to the Advancement of Social Happiness. With 2 plates. Boston: Joseph H. Francis; London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co, 1838. Pp. 27. (Reviewed PHREN J, 13 [1846]: 91-4.)

Editorial Information

1046. SMITH, Joshua Toulmin (1816-69), eldest son of W. Hawkes
SMITH; articled to a Birmingham solicitor, 1832; student at Lincoln's
Inn, 1835, called to the bar, 1849; a student of literature and philosophy with an interest in economics and educational reform; he taught
with his father at the Birmingham Mechanics' Inst, lecturing there
on phrenology, 1835; inspired by H. MARTINEAU'S account of the
United States, he emigrated to Michigan, 1835, where he tried but
failed to earn a living by writing and lecturing on phrenology; returned to England in 1842 and continued his legal studies; became a
noted constitutional lawyer opposing government centralization and
founded the weekly Parliamentary Remembrancer (1857-65); first
pres Geologists' Assn, 1859; M LONDON PHREN SOC; M PHREN ASSN
from Aug 1839, being one of its secretaries; corresponded with G.
COMBE, 1836-50. (DNB; MEB; J in America, 1837-8, ed F. B.
Streeter [1925])