Cecil Humphery-Smith

{{Short description|British genealogist, herald, biochemist, and mycologist (1928–2021)}}

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| name = Cecil Humphery-Smith

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| birth_date = 29 October 1928

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| death_date = 12 January 2021 (aged 92)

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| education = Hurstpierpoint College, University of London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

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| occupation = Biochemist and mycologist,http://www.kentlive.news/whitstable-pearl-cecil-humphery-smith/story-12007593-detail/story.html{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} genealogist and heraldist

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Cecil Raymond Julian Humphery-Smith {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|FSA|FHS}} {{post-nominals|country=CAN|FRHSC}} (29 October 1928 – 12 January 2021){{Cite web|url=https://www.kfhs.org.uk/news-cecil-raymond-julian-humphery-smith-obe-fsa-1928-2021-2021-01-22|title=Cecil Raymond Julian Humphery-Smith OBE. FSA. 1928-2021|website=www.kfhs.org.uk}} was a British genealogist and heraldist.

Early life

Cecil Humphery-Smith was born on 29 October 1928 to Frederick Humphery-Smith of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, a company secretary{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38558/page/1285|title=London Gazette}} appointed MBE in 1951 for his role as honorary secretary of the Burgess Hill Savings Committee,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39243/supplement/3080|title=London Gazette}} and his wife Agnes Violet (née Boxall).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-2000042|title=Humphery-Smith, Cecil Raymond Julian|website=ukwhoswho.com|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U2000042|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4 }} His godfather was the priest and headmaster Julian Bickersteth, who encouraged the development of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies and in whose memory Humphery-Smith established a prize at the institute.{{Cite web|url=http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1109|title=Honorary fellowship for Cecil Humphery-Smith|date=20 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720143953/http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1109|archive-date=20 July 2011}}{{cite web|title=The Julian Bickersteth Memorial Medal|url=http://www.ihgs.ac.uk/about-julian-bickersteth|website=ihgs.ac.uk|publisher=The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies|access-date=5 August 2019}} He was educated at Hurstpierpoint College and, after graduating from the University of London in 1950 with a BSc,{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/heads-of-policy-and-research-organisations-pxkbwmmp72t|title=Heads of policy and research organisations|work=The Times}} undertook postgraduate studies in Biochemistry and Mycology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Parma-Piacenza Department of Agronomy.The Hurst Johnian Club newsletter Spring 2011, ed. G. L. Hill, News and Views, letter from "Cecil R. J. Humphery-Smith, OBE (Red Cross, 1941–1947)", pp. 25–26 URL= https://theojclub.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/apr-2011-spring-2011-newsletter.pdfThe Escutcheon, vol. 2, special number- 40th Anniversary, 1997, p. 5 URL= http://cuhags.soc.srcf.net/escutcheon/02.4.pdf{{Cite web|url=http://cuhags.soc.srcf.net/escutcheon/02-4.html|title=Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society|website=cuhags.soc.srcf.net}}

Career

Following some years in Italy working with tomatoes for Heinz{{dead link|date=February 2021}} and other companies, it was Humphery-Smith who brought the concept of family history to the world of genealogy with his 1957 lecture "Introducing Family History." In 1961, he founded the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies in Canterbury and edited its journal, FAMILY HISTORY between 1962 and 2021.{{cite web|url=http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1109|title=Honorary fellowship for Cecil Humphery-Smith|publisher=Canterbury Christ Church University|date=13 May 2008|access-date=2 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720143953/http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.asp?newsPk=1109|archive-date=20 July 2011}} In 2008 Humphery-Smith was awarded an honorary Fellowship of Canterbury Christ Church University.

Humphery-Smith was a lecturer at University of London, amongst other institutions, for much of his professional career. He also served as a Fellow with the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry.{{Cite web|url=http://www.icocregister.org/patronsandmembers.htm|title=Patrons and Members|website=www.icocregister.org}} He long was the only British member of Council of L'Académie Internationale d'Héraldique and received several other academic and literary honours and awards from around the world. In 2004, he was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for "Services to Education in Heraldry and Genealogy."[http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/h/589/Cecil%20Raymond%20Julian+HUMPHERY-SMITH.aspx] Cecil Humphery-Smith, Esq, OBE, FSA on the Debrett's website

After being severely injured by a reversing vehicle in a car park in 2005 Humphery-Smith gave up lecturing, but continued to edit the Family History journal.

Personal life

In 1951, Humphery-Smith married Alice Elizabeth Gwendoline Cogle (d. 2017);{{Cite web|url=https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/HUMPHERY+-+SMITH/4487276|title=Funeral notices|website=funeral-notices.co.uk}} they had one son and five daughters.