Smith , Charles Roach , 1806-1890 , antiquary

Charles Roach Smith was a chemist who practiced archaeology as a hobby; collecting items found in the construction of sewers and the dredging of the Thames. He published a catalogue of his collection in 1854, and in 1855 sold the items (over 5000 of them) to the British Museum. Smith worked on studies of Roman London based on observation of remains; as well as publishing articles relating to coins, field monuments, Anglo-Saxon grave goods and sepulchres, both in the UK and Europe. In December 1843 Smith joined Thomas Wright in founding the British Archaeological Association.

Frederick William Fairholt trained as an artist from the age of 12, and became an engraver preparing illustrations for magazines. He began to receive commissions to illustrate antiquarian works; and was employed as artist and writer for the Art Union magazine. His antiquarian knowledge made him much in demand for the illustration of scholarly publications; and he did the illustrations for Charles Roach Smith's The Antiquities of Richborough (1850) and Thomas Wright's Archaeological Album (1845).

Source of information: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edn, Oxford University Press.