Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Smith II
Designation:  
Born: 5 July 1847
Died: 11 April 1887
Bio Notes: John Smith was born 5 July 1847, one of the eight children of William Smith, architect of Aberdeen and his wife Mary Blaikie. After attending university from 1863 where he befriended James Cooper, later to become its principal, he was articled to his father. His brief obituaries make no mention of London experience but it is probable that he had some, perhaps with Kerr or Donaldson, as the practice's Gothic work became polychromatic from 1868 onwards. John Smith II remained as assistant until 1879 when he was taken into partnership, the practice title becoming W & J Smith.

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. Like William and Mary Smith before them they set up house at 142 Great King Street and 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.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate   

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 3J & W Smithc. 1867c. 1872Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3J & W Smithc. 18721879Assistant(?) 
Item 3 of 3W & J Smith18791887Partner 

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 161877Auchterless Parish ChurchAuchterless AberdeenshireScotlandNew church incorporating parts of older building - mainly responsible for the design, as assistant
Item 2 of 161877Belhelvie Parish ChurchBelhelvie AberdeenshireScotlandAs assistant
Item 3 of 161877Echt Parish ManseEcht AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations to dining room and drawing room
Item 4 of 161880239 Union Street  AberdeenScotlandRebuilding
Item 5 of 161880Holburn Parish Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 6 of 161880Militia Barracks and depot  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 7 of 161881Whitehaugh House  AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 8 of 161882147-149 Union Street  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 9 of 161882New Market and the layout of Market Street  AberdeenScotlandRebuilding after fire damage
Item 10 of 161883141 Union Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 16188536-40 Market Street  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 12 of 161885Original Secession Church on Skene Terrace and Crimon Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 13 of 161885Premises for G & W Davidson on St Clement Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 14 of 161886Police StablesAberdeen AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 15 of 161886Skene Street and Rosemount elevations  AberdeenScotland 
Item 16 of 161887Store for Tester on St Clement Street  AberdeenScotland 

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection Sketch books Acc Nos 2002/202
Item 2 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from Helen Smith