Frederick C. Smith b. c.1820

  • Artist (Draughtsman)
Colonial sketcher and explorer, aged 18 when he joined a fatal expedition to the north west of Western Australia, leaving behind a series of sketches, one of which was subsequently published by Sir George Grey. Grey also named a river after him.
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sketcher and explorer, was a grandson of the English politician William Smith. Aged eighteen, he joined (Sir) George Grey on his exploration of the north west of Western Australia, the youngest member of the party although not the most inexperienced, being described by Grey as 'the young gentleman who had accompanied me on a former tour’. The expedition, which left Fremantle in the Russell on 17 February 1839, turned into a disaster. After the food supply buried on Bernier Island proved to have disappeared and the whaleboats were wrecked near Gantheaume Bay, the party attempted to return to Perth overland. Strength and provisions being almost exhausted about 190 miles from Perth, Grey took a few of the stronger men on ahead to get help for the others. By the time the relief party arrived, Smith had died of exhaustion, on 12 May 1839. The others survived. Grey subsequently reproduced one of Smith’s drawings in Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38 and 39… (London 1841). He also named a river after him.

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Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1992
Last updated:
2011

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