Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smallwood, Charles
SMALLWOOD, CHARLES (1812–1872), meteorologist, was born in Birmingham in 1812. He studied medicine at University College, London, and in 1853, removing to Canada, he settled at St. Martin, Isle Jesus, Canada East, where he obtained a large practice. Soon after he established a meteorological and electrical observatory, and began a series of important experiments. He discovered the influence of atmospheric electricity in the formation of the snow crystal, and investigated the relations of ozone with light, and the influence of electricity on the germination of seeds. In 1858 Smallwood received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the McGill University at Montreal, and was appointed professor of meteorology. In 1860 the Canadian government made him a grant to obtain magnetic instruments, and in 1861 he began regular meteorological observations, which he published periodically. He died at Montreal on 22 Dec. 1872. He was a member of many English and foreign scientific societies.
[Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, v. 555; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Morgan's Celebrated Canadians, p. 674.]