View source for J. W. Smit

[[Image:Smit.jpg|thumb|J. W. Smit]]

'''Jacobus Wilhelmus Smit''' (commonly known as '''J. W. Smit''') ([[1930]] - [[2006]]) was the Queen Wilhelmina Professor of the Language and Literature of the Netherlands. Smit, a lover of learning, spent much of his time teaching and studying rather than engaging in research. Nevertheless, Smit was regarded as a world expert on the music of Hector Berlioz. Upon his death in [[2006]] he was attempting to learn Chinese and was still an active participant in the [[Nobility and Civility]] colloquia. His fans (and there were many) were known as the 'Smit-ten.'

==Talents and Experiences==
The following a list of Smit's (mostly verifiable) talents and experiences:
*Tobacco dealer.
*Tobacco smuggler.
*Radical left-wing activist and social organiser.
*Radical left-wing editor of a radical left-wing activist publication.
*Went to radical summer camp ("where they taught me how to take over organisations and shut people up at meetings and also make bombs").
*Supposedly fought in the Yugoslavian army at some point.
*Worked at the call money desk at Rabobank as a short-term bond trader.
*Played semi-professional soccer.
*Played piano in Amsterdam brothels for a few months.
*Cooked very good Indonesian.
*Knew English, French, Dutch, Latin, Greek, German, dabbled in Sanskrit and Japanese and was, at the time of his death, attempting to master Classical Chinese.
*Leading scholar on economic history and capitalism.
*He was the first and one of only two Columbia professors (along with [[Richard Bulliet]]) to have taught all four major [[Core Curriculum]] classes (including [[Lit Hum]], [[Contemporary Civilization]], [[Art Hum]], and [[Music Hum]]). 
*Lectured without notes. Or preparation.

==External links==

*[http://www.jwsmit.com/index.html In Memory of Jacobus Wilhelmus Smit]
*[http://www.wikicu.com/images/3/32/Ugrad_tan_thesis.pdf Senior thesis dedicated to Smit]

[[Category:Former professors|Smit]]
[[Category:History professors|Smit]]
[[Category:Van Doren Award recipients|Smit]]
[[Category:German professors|Smit]]