10 Facts About William Smyth

William Smyth became very wealthy and was a benefactor of a number of institutions.

William Smyth was the fourth son of Robert William Smyth of Peel Hall.

William Smyth was allegedly brought up during his youth at nearby Knowsley Hall, the home of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby.

William Smyth's college is uncertain, being either Oriel or Lincoln, or both in succession.

William Smyth continued to hold this post until at least 1512 or, possibly, until his death.

William Smyth purchased land including a footpath from the village to the church to allow entry for his tenants by a separate door to avoid contact with the residents of Farnworth at the time of the plague.

Also in 1507 William Smyth founded a fellowship in Oriel College, Oxford, and gave manors to Lincoln College.

William Smyth gave to the college his lands of Cold Norton and, by his will, a considerable legacy of lands, plate, vestments, manuscripts and books.

William Smyth was very wealthy and was described by Hugh Latimer as being one of the "unpreaching prelates"; no sermons by him survive.

Matthew Smyth was the first principal of Brasenose College, a William Smyth was archdeacon of Northampton and then of Lincoln and another William Smyth was appointed to St John's Hospital at Lichfield.