Albert Ernest Stafford Smythe (27 December 1861 – 6 October 1947) was an Irish-born Canadian journalist, poet, and leader in the theosophy movement in Canada who founded the Toronto Theosophical Society.

He was the father of sportsman and businessman Conn Smythe, who owned the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1927 to 1980.

[1] Smythe was born in Gracehill, County Antrim, in Ireland[2] on 27 December 1861[3] to a poor Protestant family.

[4] In 1891 Smythe published his first book of poetry, Poems Grave and Gay, and founded the Toronto Theosophical Society[1] that 16 February and served as its first president.

[6] According to Greg Gatenby Smythe was "one of the best known newspaper men in Canada, and serious critics would call him one of the best poets in the nation".