Date of Birth: 12/12/1821
Place of Birth: Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Date of Death: 12/10/1885
Place of Death: New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council |
03 Nov 1874 |
12 Oct 1885 |
10 years 11 months 10 days |
Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 14 July 1874 |
Qualifications, occupations and interests
University professor. Educated at Marischal College Aberdeen (MA 1843, MD 1844). Visited Australia in 1846. Arrived in Sydney in 8 September 1852 as foundation professor of chemistry and experimental physics at University of Sydney. Proceeded on leave in Europe from 1860 until 1861, 1871 until 1872, 1882 until 1883 and the Faculty of Arts from 1884 until 1885; Member of University of Sydney Senate from 1861 until 1885. Honorary LLD from University of Aberdeen in 1876. Became a Director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society in 1864. Chairman from 1873 until 1880, 1883 until 1885. Member of Board of National Education from 1853 until 1866. Member of Council of Education until it was abolished in 1880, elected as chairman nine times. Elective trustee of Australian Museum. In 1860s was on committees of several religious organisations; vice president of Young Men's Christian Association. Honorary treasurer of Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary from 1866 until 1867. Commissioner of Several International Exhibitions. Vice President of Highland Society of New South Wales.
Honours Received
Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1878
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Roderick Smith, blacksmith, and Margaret Shier. Married Mary (Minnie) Macleod on 11 June 1872 at Bidston, Cheshire, England. Presbyterian.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6
