Smollett's father, Archibald, was the fourth son of Sir James Smollett of Bonhill, a Scotch judge and Member of Parliament, and one of the commissioners for framing the Union with England. Archibald married, without the old gentleman's consent, and died early, leaving his children dependent on their grandfather. Tobias, the second son, was born in 1721, in the old house of Dalquharn in the valley of Leven; and all his life loved and admired that valley and Loch Lomond beyond all the valleys and lakes in Europe. He learned the “rudiments” at Dumbarton Grammar-school, and studied at Glasgow.
But when he was only eighteen, his grandfather died, and left him without provision (figuring as the old judge in Roderick Random in consequence, according to Sir Walter). Tobias, armed with the Regicide, a tragedy—a provision precisely similar to that with which Dr. Johnson had started, just before—came up to London. The Regicide came to no good, though at first patronized by Lord Lyttelton (“one of those little fellows who are sometimes called great men,” Smollett says); and Smollett embarked as “surgeon's mate” on board a line-of-battle ship, and served in the Carthagena expedition, in 1741. He left the service in the West Indies, and, after residing some time in Jamaica, returned to England in 1746.
He was now unsuccessful as a physician, to begin with; published the satires, Advice and Reproof—without any luck; and (1747) married the “beautiful and accomplished Miss Lascelles”.
In 1748 he brought out his Roderick Random, which at once made a “hit”. The subsequent events of his life may be presented, chronologically, in a bird's-eye view:—
1750. Made a tour to Paris, where he chiefly wrote Peregrine Pickle.
1751. Published Peregrine Pickle.
1753. Published Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom.
1755. Published version of Don Quixote.
1756. Began the Critical Review.
1758. Published his History of England.