James Smith (1825-1910)

James Smith (1825-1910) of Bon Marche and the "Sportsman" newspaper

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1910 Obituary.

A romantic career in sport and business is recalled by the death of Mr James Smith, at his house, Morningside, Streathbourne Road, Upper Tooting. Familiarly known as "Rosebery Smith,” besides having had a remarkable career on the turf he was intimately connected with enterprises as different as Bradshaw's Railway Guide, the Sportsman newspaper, and the Brixton Bon Marche.

Born in 1825, Mr Smith was at first engaged in the printing business in Manchester, his native town, where he was concerned with ‘the publication of Bradshaw. His intimate connection with the sporting world began in the early fifties, when he became a commission agent, and as such laid the foundation of a large fortune. Next, he entered into partnership with a Mr Sydney Smith, also a Manchester citizen, but no relation, and the two Smiths together made considerable sums with the once famous racehorse Hartington. This friendship also led to the foundation of the Sportsman.

It was in 1876, however, that Mr James Smith accomplished the feat that has been associated with his name ever since, for in that year he won the Cesarewitch and the Cambridgeshire with his horse Rosebery - a feat that no horse had previously achieved.

Founding Bon Marche. In later years Mr Smith severed his connection with the Sportsman, and gradually also with the turf. But his active mind was not satisfied until, after visiting the large Bon Marche in the Paris Exhibition, he invested a great part, of his fortune in founding a colossal establishment on similar lines at Brixton, which was at the time the biggest shop in London. His interest in the Brixton establishment he retained up to a few years ago.

In connection with his nickname "Rosebery," one episode, worthy a place in the more thoughtful melodrama, may be recounted. During the autumn prior to the horse’s great victories, a prominent London sportsman, getting wind of Rosebery’s carefully-concealed merits, sent his brother down to the stable to spy out the land. The advent in the neighbourhood of a mysterious stranger quickly became known, and to rid the stable of this unwelcome visitor the trainer hit on an ingenious plan. Tt was customary to send a boy on a hack to the village for letters every day, so the trainer, knowing that the "tout" would find it out, mounted the lad on Rosebery. Immediately the "tout" found out the nature of Rosebery’s employment he returned to London convinced that his brother had got on the wrong scent.

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