James Smith of Jordanhill

James Smith of Jordanhill FRSE FRS MWS (1782-1867) was a Scottish merchant, antiquarian, architect, geologist, biblical critic and man of letters. An authority on ancient shipbuilding and navigation, his works included "Newer Pliocene" (1862) and "Voyage and Shipwreck of St Paul" (1848). He designed Craigend Castle, Elder Park Established Church (Govan parish church),^[1] and an unexecuted "Scheme for a Crystal Palace", in lieu of Park Circus Gate, Glasgow.^[2]

James Smith was born on 15 August 1782 at Jordanhill, Glasgow, the son of the West Indies merchant Archibald Smith of Jordanhill and Isobel Ewing. His cousin was the insurance broker and philanthropist William Euing.

Smith was educated at Glasgow Grammar School and Glasgow University. He became a sleeping partner in his father's firm, Leitch & Smith, in 1809 and later served as President of the Andersonian University, Glasgow.

Smith married Mary Wilson (granddaughter of Alexander Wilson and niece of Patrick Wilson) in 1809 and their son Archibald Smith of Jordanhill was a barrister and mathematician.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1822, upon the proposal of Lord John Campbell, and served as a Councillor of the RSE during 1836-9. He served as President of the Geological Society of Glasgow (1864-7). He was also a Member of the Wernerian Society, a member of the Highland Society (1823), a Fellow of the Royal Society of London (1830) and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

He died on 17 January 1867 at Jordanhill.

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