Tobias George Smollett, a British author, born in Dalquhurn house, parish of Cardross, Dumbartonshire, in 1721, died at Monte Nero, near Leghorn, Oct. 21, 1771. He was educated at the grammar school of Dumbarton and at the university of Glasgow, and was apprenticed to a medical practitioner. When his apprenticeship expired, in his 19th year, he set out for London, carrying with him a tragedy entitled "The Regicide," which he vainly attempted to produce on the stage. Thwarted in his purpose, he accepted in 1741 the post of surgeon's mate on an 80-gun ship, and sailed on the disastrous expedition against Cartagena, which he has described in "Roderick Random," and with more detail in the " Compendium of Voyages." He left the navy at Jamaica, and while there became acquainted with Anne Lascelles, whom he married in 1747. Returning to England in 1746, after the battle of Cul-loden, he produced anonymously "The Tears of Scotland," an ode lamenting the atrocities of the royal army. He also published " Advice, a Satire " (1746), and " Reproof, a Satire " (1747), and wrote "Alceste, an Opera," for the Covent Garden theatre, which was withdrawn in consequence of a quarrel with the manager.

In 1748 appeared the first of his novels, "The Adventures of Roderick Random." He made a short visit to Paris in 1750, and in 1751 published "The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle," which is disfigured by an episode detailing the intrigues of Lady Vane, for inserting which he is said to have received a liberal reward from her. He now resumed the medical profession, settled at Bath, and published in 1752 "An Essay on the External Use of Water." Obtaining no practice, he removed to Chelsea, and devoted himself again to literary pursuits. In 1753 appeared his "Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom." In 1755 he published by subscription his translation of " Don Quixote," more animated and elegant but less accurate than that of Jarvis, on which it was founded. Afterward he undertook the management of the "Critical Review." His irritable temper and capricious tastes involved him in numerous vexations and quarrels; a contemptuous critique on the "Rosciad" provoked against him the spleen of Churchill; and in 1759 an attack on Admiral Knowles, one of the commanders at Cartagena, caused him to be arraigned for libel and sentenced to a fine of £100 and three months' imprisonment.

He had meantime produced a " Compendium of Authentic and Entertaining Voyages " (7 vols., 1757), a comedy entitled "The Reprisals," which Garrick brought out on the stage, and a " Complete History of England" (4 vols., 1757-8), written in 14 months, which became very popular. While in prison he wrote " The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves," a sort of travesty of "Don Quixote," which appeared in the "British Magazine" in 1760-'61. He afterward contributed the accounts of France, Italy, and Germany to the "Modern Universal History," and continued his " Complete History of England," bringing the narrative down from 1748 to 1764. The whole work was in 16 vols. 8vo, of which only the last 5 vols., forming a continuation to Hume, are now read. On the accession of George III. he undertook to defend the administration of Lord Bute in a weekly paper entitled " The Briton." He was effectively and abusively answered by Wilkes in his " North Briton," and his services being unpaid, and his side most unpopular, he withdrew from the contest. His health was shattered by this discomfiture, by his labors on a translation of the works of Voltaire and on a compilation entitled "The Present State of All Nations," and by the death of his only child; and in 1763 he went abroad for two years.

In 1766 he published " Travels through France and Italy," which was ridiculed by Sterne in his " Sentimental Journey." On returning from Italy he visited Scotland, resided at Bath during the following year, and there wrote " The Adventures of an Atom," a political satire, in which he assailed Lord Bute and the earl of Chatham. His broken health obliged him again to seek a milder climate, and he went to Italy in 1770, beginning on his way to write "The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker," which appeared in 1771, just before his death. - His life has been written by Thomas Roscoe, Dr. Moore, and others. One of the best editions of his works appeared in 1873 (8 vols. 8vo, London).