Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) was a Scottish author and reformer who is best known for his book "Self-Help" (1859), which became a popular manual for personal improvement and self-reliance. Smiles studied medicine, and then worked as a journalist and editor for various newspapers. His ideas were influential in his time, and he was seen as a champion of the working class and a critic of the established order. He believed that individuals had the power to shape their own destinies, regardless of their social background or circumstances.

Smiles was born in Haddington, Scotland, and was the son of a doctor. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but he did not complete his degree. Instead, Smiles became a journalist and editor, working for newspapers in Edinburgh and then in Leeds, England. He became interested in social and political reform and began writing books and articles on these topics. In 1859, he published "Self-Help" which became an instant success and was translated into many languages.

In addition to his writing, Smiles was also involved in various reform movements, such as the campaign for sanitation and public health in Victorian Britain. He was a member of the Royal Commission on the Health of the Army and the Poor Law Board, and he was also involved in the establishment of the National Provident Institution, which provided life insurance and pensions for working-class people.

Self-Help (1859)