David Howard Smith (1900 – 87)

David Howard Smith was born in Great Harwood on June 7th, 1900. His father, John Howard, owned a retail drapery shop at 64 Queen St. His mother, Nancy, had to run the business and bring up four small children when her husband died in 1907 at the age of 39.

Smith was educated at Great Harwood British (Elementary) School and Accrington Grammar School and trained for the ministry of the United Methodist Church. He served as a missionary in China from 1924 to 1948 and then returned to England where he taught for ten years at Manchester University.

Smith was a brilliant linguist and had a great knowledge of Chinese philosophy, culture and religion, but “a more humble, gracious, kindly and understanding man it would be hard to find.” (1988 obituary)

His long list of publications include The Wisdom of the Taoist Mystics and articles in many academic journals.

Smith spent his final years in Fowey, Cornwall.