William Small

William Small
Tilly Kettle (1735–1786) was a portrait painter · Public domain · source
Name	William Small
Birth date	13 October 1734
Birth place	Carmyllie, Angus, Scotland
Death date	25 February 1775
Death place	Birmingham, England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Marischal College, Aberdeen
Occupation	Physician, Professor, Intellectual
Known for	Mentor to Thomas Jefferson, Professor at the College of William & Mary

William Small. A Scottish physician, professor, and Enlightenment intellectual, William Small is best remembered for his profound influence on a young Thomas Jefferson during his tenure at the College of William & Mary. His interdisciplinary teaching in natural philosophy, mathematics, and ethics introduced colonial students to the forefront of European scientific thought. After returning to Britain, he became a central figure in the Lunar Society of Birmingham, collaborating with leading industrialists and thinkers before his early death.

Early life and education

William Small was born in Carmyllie, Angus, and demonstrated academic promise from a young age. He pursued his higher education at Marischal College, Aberdeen, a constituent part of the University of Aberdeen known for its progressive curriculum. At Marischal, he studied under distinguished scholars, immersing himself in the Scottish Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason and empirical science. This rigorous education in medicine, natural philosophy, and moral philosophy provided the foundation for his future career, equipping him with the broad intellectual outlook he would later impart to his students in the Thirteen Colonies.

Career in America

In 1758, Small crossed the Atlantic Ocean to take up a professorship in natural philosophy at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia. He was the first professor to teach a full range of modern scientific subjects at the college, moving beyond the traditional classical curriculum. His lectures covered Newtonian physics, chemistry, astronomy, and mathematics, drawing from the works of Isaac Newton and contemporary European scientists. In Williamsburg, he moved in influential circles, befriending the colony's Lieutenant Governor, Francis Fauquier, and the prominent lawyer George Wythe. This period established his reputation as a brilliant educator who shaped the minds of Virginia's future leaders.

Influence on Thomas Jefferson

Small's most enduring impact was as the mentor and friend of a young Thomas Jefferson, who entered the College of William & Mary in 1760. Jefferson later credited Small with fixing "the destinies of my life," introducing him to the expansive world of the Enlightenment. Through Small, Jefferson was introduced to the intellectual society of Francis Fauquier and George Wythe, forming a quartet that met regularly for conversation and music. Small directed Jefferson's studies toward the systematic thought of the Scientific Revolution and the ethical inquiries of the Enlightenment philosophers, profoundly shaping Jefferson's views on reason, liberty, and governance, which would later be expressed in documents like the Declaration of Independence.

Return to Britain and later life

Small returned to Britain in 1764, suffering from poor health, and initially practiced medicine in London. He soon moved to Birmingham, where his intellect found a new outlet in the burgeoning world of industry and innovation. He became a pivotal member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, an informal discussion group of leading industrialists, scientists, and thinkers. There, he collaborated closely with figures like Matthew Boulton, James Watt, Erasmus Darwin, and Josiah Wedgwood, contributing his scientific expertise to their pioneering work in areas like steam engine efficiency and manufacturing. He continued his medical practice until his death in Birmingham in 1775.

Legacy and recognition

Though he published little, William Small's legacy is carried through the monumental achievements of those he taught and inspired. His role in shaping the intellectual development of Thomas Jefferson is considered a significant, though indirect, contribution to the founding of the United States. In Birmingham, his work with the Lunar Society of Birmingham helped foster the technological advances that powered the Industrial Revolution. Modern recognition includes a memorial plaque at the College of William & Mary and his commemoration in histories of the Scottish Enlightenment and the transatlantic exchange of ideas. The William Small Physical Laboratory at the University of Birmingham is named in his honor.

Category:1734 births Category:1775 deaths Category:Scottish physicians Category:Scottish educators Category:People of the American Enlightenment Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Category:Members of the Lunar Society