Sir William Reardon Smith (1856-1935)

David Jenkins

The tramp steamer Prince Rupert City, a typical Reardon Smith vessel of the inter-war years.

The sail training yacht Margherita, on which Reardon Smith apprentices gained experience of seafaring under sail.

Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart., 1856-1935.

The Reardon Smith lecture theatre at the National Museum Cardiff, inaugurated in 1932.

Most museums can acknowledge a great benefactor without whom their histories would have been very different; in the case of Amgueddfa Cymru, that person was Sir William Reardon Smith.

During his terms as the Museum's treasurer (1925-28) and president (1928-32), Sir William Reardon Smith utterly transformed the Museum's faltering finances and oversaw the completion of National Museum Cardiff's splendid east wing, which forms an integral part of Cardiff's unique civic centre.

Reardon Smith was not Welsh by birth; he was born to a seafaring family in the north Devon coastal village of Appledore on 7 August 1856.

Cabin boy

When Reardon Smith was 3 his father died when his schooner sank in a storm off Burry Port. Nevertheless, by the time he had reached his early teens he was a cabin boy on similar local vessels engaged in the coasting trades of the Bristol Channel. He later served on sailing ships carrying railway lines to the USA and copper ore Chile.

Captain Reardon Smith

Aged just 22, he served as captain of a number of sailing ships and steamers, mostly owned by the famous Scottish shipping company Hugh Hogarth of Glasgow, until he left the sea in 1900 and moved to Cardiff with his wife and family.

In 1905 he embarked on what would become his life's work when he promoted a company to acquire and operate a new steamship, the City of Cardiff. The venture prospered, and by the outbreak of the First World War he owned 9 tramp steamers, all working in the export of coal from south Wales.

Despite a number of losses to submarines during the war, Reardon Smith continued to expand his fleet, and by 1930 he controlled no fewer than 35 ships.

Sir William

Sir William was created a baronet in 1920, and became increasingly involved in philanthropic activities. In 1921 he established the Reardon Smith Nautical School; four years later he acquired a large yacht, the Margherita, to serve both as training vessel and family yacht.

He gave generously to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary and towards the cost of a new hospital at Bideford, and also endowed the chair of geography at Exeter University, which still bears his name.

However, the object of his greatest generosity was the National Museum of Wales. Between 1915 and 1935 he and his wife Lady Ellen donated something in the region of £150,000.

In addition to his personal donations, he also worked tirelessly to raise funds from elsewhere. In recognition, the new lecture theatre built as part of the Museum's east wing in 1932 was named the Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre.

Sir William died on 23 December 1935 after a brief illness. His success as a shipowner was equalled only by his exceptional generosity. By preferring to spend his fortune on improving the lives of others rather than indulging himself, he ensured that many present-day inhabitants of both south Wales and the West Country still owe him a debt of gratitude.

Article by: David Jenkins, Senior Curator of Industry

Comments (8)

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Des Mclindon
11 February 2022, 12:24
Good morning,

In my button collection I have a MN type button with a Trident imposed. was told this was worn by cadets at Sir William Smith Nautical College. Is this correct or false?

I went to Nautical school in Plymouth(1968-71) and we wore standard MN buttons.

many thanks

Des McLindon
Adam Whittaker
29 November 2020, 13:21
Lyn, yes he did. Wanna was my wife's great aunt. My wife is Samantha Reardon Smith is the original Sir William's great great granddaughter.
Lyn Thomas
4 February 2020, 04:43
Did Sir William have a daughter/daughter in law called Wanna Reardon Smith? She lived somewhere near Bath.
David smith
7 October 2019, 01:46
Curious, did sir William Reardon Smith have any sons or maybe a brother that moved to to the United states and settled in Minnesota and built a farm/ranch Having a son that moved to California and purchased a ranch.
Sara Huws Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
3 May 2018, 12:07

Hi there John

Thank you for your enquiry. I will pass it on to one of our Curators and post their reply here.

Best

Sara
Digital Team

John Paskell
2 May 2018, 13:20
My father, John Henry Paskell was born on 27 April 1911, and joined the Reardon Smith Nautical school as a cadet in 1925. As a result of his hard work during the course he was awarded a medal to commemorate his performance as "Top Boy". The prize that accompanied the medal was to join the crew of Margherita to race against the Kings yacht Britannia and three other yachts,Westward, Shamrock and White Heather.
Dad often wondered what happened to Margherita, but was unable to find out. This was pre Internet, but I have also tried without success. He died in 2007 at the age of 96, and now my son, is keen to follow up the family history.
I would be grateful if you could let me have any photographs of the Margherita, and the class of 1925-27. I have one very faded photograph oh Dad on the yacht, but it is so faded you can't see much. If you don't have any information, can you put me in touch with someone who might be able to help.
Kind Regards
John Paskell.
Wendy Voit
26 February 2018, 11:01
I was born in Cardiff in November 1952 and was very interested to read about Sir William and the marvellous things he did to help others. My Mother told me many things about him. He was her great uncle, I was told. She said her family would often spend their summer vacations on the Gower Coast at his home and he paid for my Mother's education. We visited Appledore a few years ago and were made very welcome by the community when my Mother explained who we were. My Great Grandmother's maiden name was Avery and she married into the Salmon Family. I go to meetings at my museum for lectures also, as I have many interests including Art, History, Photography, Astronomy, travelling and love venturing on the Sea
It is a shame we cannot go back in time and meet with our ancestors.
Bill Gillbard
2 February 2017, 10:00
Spent three years at Smith's junior Nautical College 1952-1954 when it was Housed in the Technical College in Cathays Park. Spent 40 years at Sea subsequently. Very grateful for Sir Williams generosity. Have seen His monument in Cathays Cemetery.
Regards Bill Gillbard