A ^hobbit^ of the ^Stoor^ tribe, born near the ^River Gladden^ in the 25th century of the ^Third Age^. His parentage is not stated. Later called ^Gollum^, he perished in the fires of ^Orodruin^ in TA 3019.
About TA 2463 Sméagol’s friend and relative ^Déagol^ found a golden ring on the river-bed while fishing. It was the ruling ^One Ring^ lost by the ^Dark Lord^ ^Sauron^ long before. Seeking a way back to him it exerted a dark and powerful influence. Sméagol murdered his friend and kept the ring claiming it was a birthday present.
The ring enabled Sméagol to become invisible while wearing it and under its influence he maliciously eavesdropped on his family and community and stole from them. He developed a habit of making choking glottal noises in his throat, and was nicknamed ^Gollum^. Eventually when his family and neighbours could stand no more they expelled him from the community.
Sméagol is an anglicisation of the hobbitish name ^Trahald^, meaning “burrowing, worming in”.
The rest of Sméagol’s story is told under ^Gollum^.
