Albert Richard Smith

Albert Richard Smith, who lived from 24 May 1816 to 23 May 1860, was an English physician, author, entertainer and mountaineer, born at Chertsey, Surrey. He trained in medicine in London and Paris but turned to writing, contributing to Punch from 1842 and publishing novels such as The Adventures of Mr Ledbury. After ascending Mont Blanc in August 1851 he wrote The Story of Mont Blanc and staged an entertainment called Mont Blanc at the Egyptian Hall, which ran for 2000 performances over six years, was performed before Queen Victoria in 1854 and helped popularize mountain climbing in mid-Victorian Britain. He was a founder member of the Alpine Club in 1857.