Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Smith II
Designation:  
Born: 16 September 1817
Died: 22 December 1891
Bio Notes: William Smith II was the fourth of John Smith and Margaret Grant's eight children, born 16 September 1817. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Marischal College where he graduated MA. During that period he studied sketching and watercolour under James Giles. Thereafter he was articled to his father, working alongside Robert Kerr, the future Professor of Architecture at King's College in London. Smith subsequently spent eighteen months in London as assistant to Thomas Leverton Donaldson in whose office he had the opportunity to study the extensive library and classical antiquities that the latter had collected. He may have attended Donaldson's classes at University College as he was admitted ARIBA on 25 July 1842, his proposers being Donaldson, Samuel Angell and George Bailey. At that date he appears to have been back in Aberdeen, but shortly thereafter he embarked on a tour of Italy and of Greece which lasted almost two years. He returned to his father's office as senior assistant and became his partner in 1845. This enabled him to marry on 2 July 1846 Mary Blaikie, born 27 September 1826 and one of the five children of Dr Patrick Blaikie RN who came of a prominent family of ironmasters in Aberdeen, Blaikie Brothers. Family photographs show that she remained a beautiful woman in middle age. Smith's father having gone into semi-retirement at Rosebank, they set up house at 142 King Street.

William Smith's first major commission was Trinity Hall, Union Street, Aberdeen, in 1846. Its adaptation of neo-Tudor to granite attracted the attention of the Prince Consort who in 1848 commissioned J & W Smith to reconstruct and enlarge old Balmoral Castle to which the elder Smith had built an addition in 1834-39. That commission did not proceed beyond the sketch plan stage but when the commission extended to a completely new house in 1852 their appointment attracted the attention of William Burn. Recent research by Paul Bradley has shown that Burn obtained an interview with the Prince Consort, probably to complain that the elder Smith had unprofessionally displaced him at Robert Gordon's College and at Fintray and had plagiarised his designs at Menie and elsewhere. Smith nevertheless retained the confidence of the Prince Consort and the construction of the castle in 1853-59 was followed by other buildings on the estate. By 1852 he had also officially succeeded to his father's post as Superintendent of the Town's Works, having taken on increasing amounts of work in an unofficial capacity during his father's latter years of declining health.

William Smith and Mary Blaikie had sixteen children. All eight of their surviving children were sent to the University of Aberdeen. Only the eldest, John, born 5 July 1847 became an architect. John Smith II is said to have been of 'gentle disposition and retiring habits' and 'not a man of robust frame…his health was on the whole delicate'. He married Helen Elsmie Hall, daughter of John Hall, merchant and sister of the prominent Aberdeen advocate Harvey Hall, and was taken into partnership in or about 1880, the practice title becoming W & J Smith. Like William and Mary Smith before them, John and his wife set up house at 142 Great King Street. They had three sons and a surviving daughter who were aged 8, 6, 4 and 2 when John Smith died suddenly on 11 April 1887 after a long period of declining health, leaving 'absolutely no money at all'. When they grew up all three sons entered bank service since a university education could not be afforded, thus bringing the Smith dynasty of architects to a close. Shortly after John's death William Smith merged his practice with that of his former pupil William Kelly, the practice name now becoming W & J Smith & Kelly.

This partnership was dissolved just before William Smith died at 142 King Street on 22 December 1891, saddened not only by the death of his son but also by that of his wife who had predeceased him on 21 January 1883. During his short final illness he was cared for by his son Dr Patrick Blaikie Smith, later of San Remo. His moveable estate was a surprisingly modest £1026 5s 8d, although he may have owned some property beyond the houses and yard in King Street. In politics he was described as being conservative and he 'shrank from publicity…present day methods of gaining popularity were foreign to his disposition.' Principal Cooper described him as having a 'high bred courtesy' and 'a reticence to the point of shyness'. It was perhaps these qualities which lost him the commission for Aberdeen Sheriff Court in the limited competition of 1861 set up between himself, James Matthews and the Edinburgh practice of Peddie & Kinnear. That project subsequently grew into that for Aberdeen Municipal Buildings and was the major disappointment of his career. His interests outwith architecture were music, children and animals. Dogs figure importantly in family photographs and either he or his son of the same name appears to have been the author of a book entitled 'The uses and abuses of domestic animals'. None of his daughters married and they were said to have led a somewhat impoverished existence after his death, dependent on the support of their surviving brothers, all of whom had successful careers.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1142, King Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate18461891 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 7John SmithAfter 1830Before 1844Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Thomas Leverton DonaldsonAfter 1835Before 1844Assistant 
Item 3 of 7John Smith18441845Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 7J & W Smith18451879Partner 
Item 5 of 7Aberdeen City Architect's Department (later City of Aberdeen District Council Architects Division)185222 December 1891Chief ArchitectCity Architect (Superintendent of the Town's Works). Death date given as date of termination
Item 6 of 7W & J Smith18791887Senior Partner 
Item 7 of 7W & J Smith and Kelly18871891Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2(Sir) Andrew Thomas Taylor1870 or 18711871 or 1872Assistant 
Item 2 of 2John Melville Keith18771882Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Samuel Angell25 July 1842for Associateship
Item 2 of 3George Bailey25 July 1842for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Thomas Leverton Donaldson25 July 1842for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 161 Edgehill House  AberdeenScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 1611839Forglen HouseForglen BanffshireScotlandMay also have been involved. Presumably also coachhouse and stables
Item 3 of 1611844Methlick Bridge over the River YthanMethlick AberdeenshireScotlandMay have been involved
Item 4 of 1611844New Deer SchoolNew Deer AberdeenshireScotlandMay be the architect with his father
Item 5 of 1611845Fraserburgh PrisonFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 6 of 1611845Haddo HouseHaddo/Methlick AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 7 of 1611845Haddo House, Butler's Cottage, Gardener's Cottage and LaundryMethlick AberdeenshireScotlandLaundry
Item 8 of 1611845Huntly Police Office PrisonHuntly AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 9 of 161After 1845(?)Union Bank  AberdeenScotlandAddition to Marischal Street
Item 10 of 161c. 1845Haddo Estate, LodgesHaddo AberdeenshireScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 11 of 161c. 1845Leochel Cushnie ManseLeochel Cushnie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 12 of 161c. 1845MansePeterhead AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 13 of 1611846Kincardine O'Neil ChurchKincardine O'Neil AberdeenshireScotlandRepairs
Item 14 of 1611846Mains of Haddo, farmhouse and officeHaddo AberdeenshireScotlandIf 1845 may be by Smith
Item 15 of 1611846Tarland ManseTarland AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 16 of 1611846Trinity Hall  AberdeenScotlandOriginal building
Item 17 of 1611847Auchaber ManseForgue AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 18 of 1611847Auchiries SchoolCruden AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 19 of 1611847Bogbrae SchoolCruden Aberdeenshire?Scotland 
Item 20 of 1611847Cluny SchoolCluny AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 21 of 1611847Forgue Free ManseForgue AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 22 of 1611847Haddo Estate, monument terminating avenue east south east of houseHaddo AberdeenshireScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 23 of 1611847King Street Iron Works  AberdeenScotland 
Item 24 of 1611847Kirkville HouseSkene AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 25 of 1611847Tarves ManseTarves AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 26 of 161c. 1847Haddo Estate, gates on avenue (the 'golden gates')Haddo AberdeenshireScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 27 of 1611848Balmoral IBalmoral AberdeenshireScotlandLarge unexecuted scheme for remodelling and enlargement
Item 28 of 1611848Savoch of Deer ManseSavoch of Deer AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 29 of 1611849Badentoy Mansion House and OfficesBanchory KincardineshireScotland 
Item 30 of 1611849Balmoral Castle, ice house  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 31 of 1611850Balmoral Castle, venison larderBalmoral AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 32 of 1611850Bridge of Dyce  AberdeenshireScotlandRebuilding
Item 33 of 1611850Fintray School and SchoolhouseFintray AberdeenshireScotlandAddition to schoolhouse
Item 34 of 161c. 1850Inchmarlo House  KincardineshireScotlandAddition of third storey
Item 35 of 161c. 1850KirkhillOld Meldrum / Oldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 36 of 161c. 1850Learney House  AberdeenshireScotlandPotting shed
Item 37 of 161c. 1850Logierieve HousePitmedden AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 38 of 161c. 1850Waterton HouseEllon AberdeenshireScotlandOn stylistic grounds - similarity to Logierieve House
Item 39 of 1611851Balmoral Castle, pony stables  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 40 of 1611851Fintray ManseFintray AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 41 of 1611851Udny Manse and OfficesUdny AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 42 of 1611852Balmoral CastleBalmoral AberdeenshireScotlandOriginal castle with Prince Albert
Item 43 of 1611852Medico-Chirurgical Society Hall  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 44 of 1611852Rathen Manse and OfficesRathen AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 45 of 161Before 1852173 Union Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 46 of 161Before 1852Blackhall CastleBanchory (near) KincardineshireScotlandAlterations to previous house on the same site
Item 47 of 161Before 1852Brucklay Bridge over the water of Fedderate  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 48 of 161Before 1852Drumside House   Scotland 
Item 49 of 161Before 1852Footdee RopeworksFootdee AberdeenScotland 
Item 50 of 161Before 1852House for Baillie Stewart on Union Street  AberdeenScotlandPossibly involved
Item 51 of 161Before 1852House for Gavin Hadden at Union Grove  AberdeenScotlandPossibly involved
Item 52 of 161185360-62 Bon Accord Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 53 of 1611853Alexander Scott's HospitalHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandOriginal building
Item 54 of 1611853House at GovalDyce AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 55 of 1611854Town and County BankStonehaven KincardineshireScotland 
Item 56 of 1611855Clarence Street Extension, Waterloo Quay to St Clement Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 57 of 1611855Echt Parish ManseEcht AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 58 of 1611855Garmaddie CottageCrathie AberdeenshireScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 59 of 1611855Savoch of Deer SchoolSavoch of Deer AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 60 of 1611857Balmoral Castle, stables, coach house and estates officeBalmoral AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 61 of 1611857Union BankFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 62 of 1611858Aberdeen Town and County BankAlford AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 63 of 1611858Balmoral Castle, gate lodge  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 64 of 1611858Balmoral, entrance gates and gatepiers  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 65 of 1611858City of Glasgow Bank  AberdeenScotland 
Item 66 of 1611858Union BankPeterhead AberdeenshireScotlandPerhaps by Smith
Item 67 of 161Before 1858The CroftBalmoral AberdeenshireScotlandKnown to have made a design for this
Item 68 of 1611859Drummuir Home FarmDrummuir BanffshireScotland 
Item 69 of 1611859Dunecht House (including chapel)Echt AberdeenshireScotlandLarge additions and probably gates at south lodge
Item 70 of 1611859Dunecht House, South LodgeEcht AberdeenshireScotlandGates - 'probably' by William Smith (HS)
Item 71 of 1611859Larachmore HouseStrachan KincardineshireScotland 
Item 72 of 1611859Miller's InstitutionThurso CaithnessScotland 
Item 73 of 1611859RhebreckEaster Balmoral AberdeenshireScotlandHS indicates the design was perhaps by Smith.
Item 74 of 1611860Alexander Scott's HospitalHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandWest wing
Item 75 of 1611860Anderson InstituteLerwickMainlandShetlandScotland 
Item 76 of 1611860Educational InstituteLerwickMainlandShetlandScotland 
Item 77 of 1611860Methlick ManseMethlick AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 78 of 1611860St Fergus ManseSt Fergus AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 79 of 1611861Brig O' Balgownie over the River Don  AberdeenScotlandRepairs
Item 80 of 1611861Old Meldrum Parish ChurchOld Meldrum / Oldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions - mainly in south aisle
Item 81 of 1611862Aberdeen Municipal Buildings and Tolbooth  AberdeenScotlandCompetition design for court house - not successful
Item 82 of 1611862Balmoral Castle, Dairy and Dairy CottagesBalmoral AberdeenshireScotlandSeveral revisions of Beaton scheme made. Smith advertised for contractors
Item 83 of 1611862Findrack HouseLumphanan AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 84 of 1611864Offices for Northern Agricultural Lime Company  AberdeenScotland 
Item 85 of 1611864Pumping station of Aberdeen Water WorksPeterculter AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 86 of 1611865Aberdeen Joint Passenger Station  AberdeenScotland 
Item 87 of 1611865Alexander Scott's HospitalHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandRestoration
Item 88 of 1611865Cottage for Manson of KilbleanOld Meldrum / Oldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 89 of 1611865Gilcomston Free ChurchGilcomston AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 90 of 1611867Aberdeen Town and County BankLumphanan AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 91 of 1611867Crathie ManseCrathie AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and additions (or a different manse?)
Item 92 of 1611867Insch Town and County bankInsch AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 93 of 1611868Alexander Scott's HospitalHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 94 of 1611868East Prison  AberdeenScotlandAdditional floor
Item 95 of 1611868Rathen Parish ChurchRathen AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 96 of 1611869Arbuthnott ChurchArbuthnott KincardineshireScotlandNave re-ordered
Item 97 of 1611869Boys' and Girls' Hospital  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 98 of 1611869Peterhead Court HousePeterhead AberdeenshireScotlandTook over commission from Peddie & Kinnear
Item 99 of 1611869Tarland Parish Church (St Moluag)Tarland AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 100 of 1611869Woodside manseWoodside AberdeenScotland 
Item 101 of 1611870Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum  AberdeenScotlandEast wing
Item 102 of 1611870(?)Bridge Lodge (policeman's house) and infirmaryBalmoral AberdeenshireScotlandMay have been consulted in this job.
Item 103 of 1611870Eight Houses on Abbey Road for fishermenTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 104 of 1611870Houses, Peter's SquareFootdee AberdeenScotlandThree houses on east side
Item 105 of 1611870Mission Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 106 of 161c. 1870Easter Balmoral, Craig GowanBalmoral AberdeenshireScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 107 of 1611871Aberdeen Harbour, North Pier  AberdeenScotlandHarbour buildings
Item 108 of 1611871Aberdeen Royal Infirmary  AberdeenScotlandFever wards
Item 109 of 1611872Garthdee House with East and West gatelodgesPeterculter AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 110 of 1611872Lodge in New Public Park  AberdeenScotland 
Item 111 of 1611873Houses, Peter's SquareFootdee AberdeenScotlandThree houses on west side
Item 112 of 1611873Three Houses on Pilot's SquareFootdee AberdeenScotland 
Item 113 of 1611874City Hospital  AberdeenScotlandAs City Architect
Item 114 of 1611874South SquareFootdee AberdeenScotlandWest side raised
Item 115 of 1611874Tullynessle ChurchTullynessle AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 116 of 1611875Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 117 of 1611875Barthol Chapel ChurchTarves AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 118 of 1611875Causewayend SchoolOld Aberdeen AberdeenScotland 
Item 119 of 1611875Church at FerryhillFerryhill AberdeenScotland 
Item 120 of 1611875Norton HouseKincardine O'Neil AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 121 of 1611875Old Meldrum SchoolOld Meldrum / Oldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 122 of 1611875Rosemount Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 123 of 1611875St Nicholas Church  AberdeenScotlandTower and spire, restoration of aisles
Item 124 of 1611875St Nicholas East Parish Church  AberdeenScotlandReconstruction after fire
Item 125 of 1611875Strachan SchoolStrachan KincardineshireScotland 
Item 126 of 1611875Theatre, Marischal Street  AberdeenScotlandConversion of theatre to church
Item 127 of 1611875Turriff Parish ChurchTurriff AberdeenshireScotlandNew belfry
Item 128 of 1611876Belhelvie Parish SchoolBelhelvie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 129 of 1611876Finzean SchoolFinzean AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 130 of 1611876Lumphanan SchoolLumphanan AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 131 of 1611876Slains Manse, with offices, doocot and gatepiersKirktown of Slains AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 132 of 1611876Tulloch School  Aberdeenshire?Scotland 
Item 133 of 161187733-37 Union Street and Exchange Court  AberdeenScotlandReconstruction
Item 134 of 1611877Auchterless Parish ChurchAuchterless AberdeenshireScotlandNew church incorporating parts of older building - John Smith II mainly responsible, as assistant
Item 135 of 1611877Auchterless Parish ChurchyardAuchterless AberdeenshireScotlandGatepiers - 'probably' (HS)
Item 136 of 1611877Belhelvie Parish ChurchBelhelvie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 137 of 1611877Old Meldrum Town HallOld Meldrum / Oldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 138 of 161Before 1877Porte cochere from Dunecht reerected as garden ornamentLoch Skene AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 139 of 161c. 1877Brig O' Balgownie over the River Don  AberdeenScotlandRepairs - with John Willet
Item 140 of 161c. 1877Parish ManseKirkton of Slains AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 141 of 1611878House in South Stocket Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 142 of 1611878Parish ManseOldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotlandEnlargement
Item 143 of 1611880239 Union Street  AberdeenScotlandRebuilding
Item 144 of 1611880Holburn Parish Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 145 of 1611880Militia Barracks and depot  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 146 of 1611881Whitehaugh House  AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 147 of 1611882147-149 Union Street  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 148 of 1611882New Market and the layout of Market Street  AberdeenScotlandRebuilding after fire damage
Item 149 of 1611883141 Union Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 150 of 161188536-40 Market Street  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 151 of 161188588 Fountainhall Road  AberdeenScotland'Possibly' (HS) - there seems to be some doubt about this though HS says that plans are by Smith
Item 152 of 1611885Original Secession Church on Skene Terrace and Crimon Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 153 of 1611885Premises for G & W Davidson on St Clement Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 154 of 1611886Police StablesAberdeen AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 155 of 1611886Skene Street and Rosemount elevations  AberdeenScotland 
Item 156 of 1611887Aberdeen Royal Infirmary  AberdeenScotlandNew ward block - carried out work
Item 157 of 1611887House for William Falconer  AberdeenScotland 
Item 158 of 1611887Store for Tester on St Clement Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 159 of 1611887Villa with tower at CorseCorse AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 160 of 1611890Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum  AberdeenScotlandMay have been involved at the beginning
Item 161 of 1611890Boys' and Girls' Hospital  AberdeenshireScotlandExtensions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2Cooper, James1892A sermon on the occasion of the death Mr William Smith, architect, Aberdeen Aberdeen 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Aberdeen Journal23 December 1891  Obituary
Item 2 of 4Aberdeen Journal28 December 1891  Obituary
Item 3 of 4Architect1 January 1892  p15
Item 4 of 4The Times29 December 1891  p5

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v1 p159 (microfiche 4/C7)
Item 2 of 3University of AberdeenArchive of cuttings, notes and photos (bequeathed by Helen Hall Smith, 1990)  
Item 3 of 3University of AberdeenWilliam Smith Family Bible