James Smith

Born in London in 1775, James Smith was an English writer and humorist who became well known in the literary world of the early 19th century. He worked for many years in business as well as in journalism, but his reputation rests chiefly on his comic writing and his gift for elegant, conversational verse.

He is most closely linked with his brother Horace Smith, with whom he wrote Rejected Addresses in 1812. The book playfully imitated the styles of famous contemporary poets and was a notable success, winning readers with its wit, literary sharpness, and good-humored mockery.

Smith continued to write essays, verses, and sketches for periodicals, building a reputation as a graceful and entertaining man of letters. He died in 1839, and he is still remembered as a deft humorist whose light touch captured the literary culture of his time.