Professor Sir David Cecil Smith (born 21 May 1930) FRS FRSE was the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1987 to 1994, and President of Wolfson College, Oxford.
Born in Port Talbot, South Wales, he studied Botany at The Queen's College, Oxford, and became a University Lecturer at Oxford University. He held the Chair of Botany at Bristol University, and returned to Oxford as Sibthorpian Professor of Rural Economy. After a period as Principal of Edinburgh University, he again returned to Oxford as President of Wolfson College, which he left in September 2000. [1]
He was awarded the Gold Medal for Botany of the Linnean Society and served as its President (2000–2003). He is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association[1].
He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering.[2]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Harrison Burnett |
Principal of Edinburgh University 1987–1994 |
Succeeded by Stewart Sutherland, Baron Sutherland of Houndwood |
| Preceded by William James Kennedy (acting) |
President of Wolfson College, Oxford 1994–2000 |
Succeeded by Jon Stallworthy (acting) |