Editing Samuel Smiles (section)

==Early life and education==
Born in [[Haddington, East Lothian]], Scotland, Smiles was the son of Janet Wilson of [[Dalkeith]] and Samuel Smiles of Haddington. He was one of eleven surviving children. While his family members were strict [[Cameronian|Reformed Presbyterians]], he did not practice. He studied at a local school, leaving at the age of 14. He apprenticed to be a doctor under Dr. Robert Lewins.<ref name="spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRsmiles.htm |title=Samuel Smiles : Biography |access-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101194311/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRsmiles.htm |archive-date=1 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This arrangement enabled Smiles to study medicine at the [[University of Edinburgh]] in 1829.{{r|ODNB}} There he furthered his interest in politics, and became a strong supporter of [[Joseph Hume]].

His father died in the [[1832 cholera epidemic]], but Smiles was enabled to continue with his studies because he was supported by his mother. She ran the small family [[general store]] firm in the belief that the "Lord will provide". Her example of working ceaselessly to support herself and his nine younger siblings strongly influenced Smiles's future life, but he developed a benign and tolerant outlook that was sometimes at odds with that of his Reformed Presbyterian forebears.{{fact|date=April 2022}}

In 1838 Smiles was offered the editorship of the reformist paper, the ''Leeds Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) - They Lived in Leeds - Thoresby Society |url=https://www.thoresby.org.uk/content/people/smiles.php |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www.thoresby.org.uk}}</ref> He spent the next twenty years in the city, moving to live on Woodhouse Cliff in 1847.<ref>{{Cite web |title=3 And 4 Woodhouse Cliff (IOE01/12328/29) Archive Item - Images Of England Collection {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/IOE01/12328/29 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>