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. |
This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): |
| Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |
| | Edgehill House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Date unknown |
| 1839 | Forglen House | Forglen | | Banffshire | Scotland | May also have been involved. Presumably also coachhouse and stables |
| 1844 | Methlick Bridge over the River Ythan | Methlick | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | May have been involved |
| 1844 | New Deer School | New Deer | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | May be the architect with his father |
| 1845 | Fraserburgh Prison | Fraserburgh | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1845 | Haddo House | Haddo/Methlick | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1845 | Haddo House, Butler's Cottage, Gardener's Cottage and Laundry | Methlick | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Laundry |
| 1845 | Huntly Police Office Prison | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| After 1845(?) | Union Bank | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Addition to Marischal Street |
| c. 1845 | Haddo Estate, Lodges | Haddo | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 'Probably' (HS) |
| c. 1845 | Leochel Cushnie Manse | Leochel Cushnie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| c. 1845 | Manse | Peterhead | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1846 | Kincardine O'Neil Church | Kincardine O'Neil | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Repairs |
| 1846 | Mains of Haddo, farmhouse and office | Haddo | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | If 1845 may be by Smith |
| 1846 | Tarland Manse | Tarland | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1846 | Trinity Hall | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Original building |
| 1847 | Auchaber Manse | Forgue | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1847 | Auchiries School | Cruden | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1847 | Bogbrae School | Cruden | | Aberdeenshire? | Scotland | |
| 1847 | Cluny School | Cluny | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1847 | Forgue Free Manse | Forgue | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1847 | Haddo Estate, monument terminating avenue east south east of house | Haddo | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 'Probably' (HS) |
| 1847 | King Street Iron Works | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1847 | Kirkville House | Skene | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |
| 1847 | Tarves Manse | Tarves | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| c. 1847 | Haddo Estate, gates on avenue (the 'golden gates') | Haddo | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 'Probably' (HS) |
| 1848 | Balmoral I | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Large unexecuted scheme for remodelling and enlargement |
| 1848 | Savoch of Deer Manse | Savoch of Deer | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1849 | Badentoy Mansion House and Offices | Banchory | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | |
| 1849 | Balmoral Castle, ice house | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1850 | Balmoral Castle, venison larder | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1850 | Bridge of Dyce | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Rebuilding |
| 1850 | Fintray School and Schoolhouse | Fintray | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Addition to schoolhouse |
| c. 1850 | Inchmarlo House | | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Addition of third storey |
| c. 1850 | Kirkhill | Old Meldrum / Oldmeldrum | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| c. 1850 | Learney House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Potting shed |
| c. 1850 | Logierieve House | Pitmedden | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| c. 1850 | Waterton House | Ellon | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | On stylistic grounds - similarity to Logierieve House |
| 1851 | Balmoral Castle, pony stables | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1851 | Fintray Manse | Fintray | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1851 | Udny Manse and Offices | Udny | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1852 | Balmoral Castle | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Original castle with Prince Albert |
| 1852 | Medico-Chirurgical Society Hall | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions |
| 1852 | Rathen Manse and Offices | Rathen | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |
| Before 1852 | 173 Union Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| Before 1852 | Blackhall Castle | Banchory (near) | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Alterations to previous house on the same site |
| Before 1852 | Brucklay Bridge over the water of Fedderate | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| Before 1852 | Drumside House | | | | Scotland | |
| Before 1852 | Footdee Ropeworks | Footdee | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| Before 1852 | House for Baillie Stewart on Union Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Possibly involved |
| Before 1852 | House for Gavin Hadden at Union Grove | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Possibly involved |
| 1853 | 60-62 Bon Accord Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1853 | Alexander Scott's Hospital | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Original building |
| 1853 | House at Goval | Dyce | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1854 | Town and County Bank | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | |
| 1855 | Clarence Street Extension, Waterloo Quay to St Clement Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1855 | Echt Parish Manse | Echt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions |
| 1855 | Garmaddie Cottage | Crathie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 'Probably' (HS) |
| 1855 | Savoch of Deer School | Savoch of Deer | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1857 | Balmoral Castle, stables, coach house and estates office | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1857 | Union Bank | Fraserburgh | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1858 | Aberdeen Town and County Bank | Alford | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1858 | Balmoral Castle, gate lodge | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1858 | Balmoral, entrance gates and gatepiers | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1858 | City of Glasgow Bank | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1858 | Union Bank | Peterhead | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Perhaps by Smith |
| Before 1858 | The Croft | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Known to have made a design for this |
| 1859 | Drummuir Home Farm | Drummuir | | Banffshire | Scotland | |
| 1859 | Dunecht House (including chapel) | Echt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Large additions and probably gates at south lodge |
| 1859 | Dunecht House, South Lodge | Echt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Gates - 'probably' by William Smith (HS) |
| 1859 | Larachmore House | Strachan | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | |
| 1859 | Miller's Institution | Thurso | | Caithness | Scotland | |
| 1859 | Rhebreck | Easter Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | HS indicates the design was perhaps by Smith. |
| 1860 | Alexander Scott's Hospital | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | West wing |
| 1860 | Anderson Institute | Lerwick | Mainland | Shetland | Scotland | |
| 1860 | Educational Institute | Lerwick | Mainland | Shetland | Scotland | |
| 1860 | Methlick Manse | Methlick | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1860 | St Fergus Manse | St Fergus | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |
| 1861 | Brig O' Balgownie over the River Don | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Repairs |
| 1861 | Old Meldrum Parish Church | Old Meldrum / Oldmeldrum | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions - mainly in south aisle |
| 1862 | Aberdeen Municipal Buildings and Tolbooth | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Competition design for court house - not successful |
| 1862 | Balmoral Castle, Dairy and Dairy Cottages | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Several revisions of Beaton scheme made. Smith advertised for contractors |
| 1862 | Findrack House | Lumphanan | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |
| 1864 | Offices for Northern Agricultural Lime Company | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1864 | Pumping station of Aberdeen Water Works | Peterculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1865 | Aberdeen Joint Passenger Station | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1865 | Alexander Scott's Hospital | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration |
| 1865 | Cottage for Manson of Kilblean | Old Meldrum / Oldmeldrum | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1865 | Gilcomston Free Church | Gilcomston | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1867 | Aberdeen Town and County Bank | Lumphanan | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1867 | Crathie Manse | Crathie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions (or a different manse?) |
| 1867 | Insch Town and County bank | Insch | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1868 | Alexander Scott's Hospital | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |
| 1868 | East Prison | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additional floor |
| 1868 | Rathen Parish Church | Rathen | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1869 | Arbuthnott Church | Arbuthnott | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Nave re-ordered |
| 1869 | Boys' and Girls' Hospital | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1869 | Peterhead Court House | Peterhead | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Took over commission from Peddie & Kinnear |
| 1869 | Tarland Parish Church (St Moluag) | Tarland | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1869 | Woodside manse | Woodside | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1870 | Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | East wing |
| 1870(?) | Bridge Lodge (policeman's house) and infirmary | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | May have been consulted in this job. |
| 1870 | Eight Houses on Abbey Road for fishermen | Torry | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1870 | Houses, Peter's Square | Footdee | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Three houses on east side |
| 1870 | Mission Hall | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| c. 1870 | Easter Balmoral, Craig Gowan | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 'Probably' (HS) |
| 1871 | Aberdeen Harbour, North Pier | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Harbour buildings |
| 1871 | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Fever wards |
| 1872 | Garthdee House with East and West gatelodges | Peterculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1872 | Lodge in New Public Park | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1873 | Houses, Peter's Square | Footdee | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Three houses on west side |
| 1873 | Three Houses on Pilot's Square | Footdee | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1874 | City Hospital | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect |
| 1874 | South Square | Footdee | | Aberdeen | Scotland | West side raised |
| 1874 | Tullynessle Church | Tullynessle | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1875 | Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions |
| 1875 | Barthol Chapel Church | Tarves | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1875 | Causewayend School | Old Aberdeen | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1875 | Church at Ferryhill | Ferryhill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1875 | Norton House | Kincardine O'Neil | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations |
| 1875 | Old Meldrum School | Old Meldrum / Oldmeldrum | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1875 | Rosemount Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1875 | St Nicholas Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Tower and spire, restoration of aisles |
| 1875 | St Nicholas East Parish Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Reconstruction after fire |
| 1875 | Strachan School | Strachan | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | |
| 1875 | Theatre, Marischal Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Conversion of theatre to church |
| 1875 | Turriff Parish Church | Turriff | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | New belfry |
| 1876 | Belhelvie Parish School | Belhelvie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1876 | Finzean School | Finzean | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations |
| 1876 | Lumphanan School | Lumphanan | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1876 | Slains Manse, with offices, doocot and gatepiers | Kirktown of Slains | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1876 | Tulloch School | | | Aberdeenshire? | Scotland | |
| 1877 | 33-37 Union Street and Exchange Court | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Reconstruction |
| 1877 | Auchterless Parish Church | Auchterless | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | New church incorporating parts of older building - John Smith II mainly responsible, as assistant |
| 1877 | Auchterless Parish Churchyard | Auchterless | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Gatepiers - 'probably' (HS) |
| 1877 | Belhelvie Parish Church | Belhelvie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1877 | Old Meldrum Town Hall | Old Meldrum / Oldmeldrum | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations |
| Before 1877 | Porte cochere from Dunecht reerected as garden ornament | Loch Skene | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| c. 1877 | Brig O' Balgownie over the River Don | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Repairs - with John Willet |
| c. 1877 | Parish Manse | Kirkton of Slains | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1878 | House in South Stocket Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1878 | Parish Manse | Oldmeldrum | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Enlargement |
| 1880 | 239 Union Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Rebuilding |
| 1880 | Holburn Parish Hall | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1880 | Militia Barracks and depot | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions |
| 1881 | Whitehaugh House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations |
| 1882 | 147-149 Union Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations |
| 1882 | New Market and the layout of Market Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Rebuilding after fire damage |
| 1883 | 141 Union Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1885 | 36-40 Market Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations |
| 1885 | 88 Fountainhall Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | 'Possibly' (HS) - there seems to be some doubt about this though HS says that plans are by Smith |
| 1885 | Original Secession Church on Skene Terrace and Crimon Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1885 | Premises for G & W Davidson on St Clement Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1886 | Police Stables | Aberdeen | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1886 | Skene Street and Rosemount elevations | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1887 | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New ward block - carried out work |
| 1887 | House for William Falconer | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1887 | Store for Tester on St Clement Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
| 1887 | Villa with tower at Corse | Corse | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
| 1890 | Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | May have been involved at the beginning |
| 1890 | Boys' and Girls' Hospital | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Extensions |