Early life and family Catherine Bywater was born around 1796 in
Tadcaster, Yorkshire. She later lived in
Leeds. In 1812, she married James Smithies at
St Peter's Church, Leeds. Her son,
Thomas Bywater Smithies (1817–1883), the second of ten children, was born in 1817; he later became a close partner in her campaigns for
abolition and
temperance.
Philanthropy and social reform Smithies was a
Methodist, and her religious beliefs strongly influenced her activism. In 1870, along with
Angela Burdett-Coutts, she founded the Ladies Committee at the
RSPCA.
Founding the Band of Mercy In 1875, Catherine Smithies established the first
Band of Mercy, modelled on the Band of Hope but focusing on
animal welfare. On her deathbed she stated: "the teaching of children to be kind and merciful to God's lower creatures is preparing the way for the gospel of Christ." She was buried in
Abney Park Cemetery in
Stoke Newington; Thomas was buried alongside her after his death. A guard of honour was formed by uniformed RSPCA officers at her funeral. After her death, Smithies was memorialised by Thomas, in issue number 281 of
The British Workman. Smithies' family and friends erected an obelisk and a public drinking fountain in
Wood Green as a memorial to honour her life and contributions. == References ==