Robert Mackay Smith FRSE (1802–1888) was a Scottish businessman, meteorologist and philanthropist. Glasgow University's Mackay Smith Prizes were founded by him in 1882. [1] He was the Chairman of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and a Director of the Commercial Bank of Scotland.
He was born in Glasgow on 24 May 1802 the son of Peter Smith, a flax merchant living at 76 Stirling Street [2] and his wife, Euphemia MacKay. He attended Glasgow University studying Sciences and graduated MA in 1815, aged only thirteen.
He moved to Leith in 1834 to work as a commission agent and lived and worked there for most of his life. He originally lived at 4 Windsor Street near the top of Leith Walk. [3]
In 1855 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being Charles Piazzi Smyth. He was a member of multiple scientific societies including the Meteorological Society of Scotland, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Society of Arts (serving as their president) and the Edinburgh Philosophical Society (Director 1851). [4]
He died on 4 April 1888 at his home, 4 Bellevue Crescent in Edinburgh [5] He is buried in one of the small south sections in Dean Cemetery in the west side of the city.
He never married and had no children.
John Smith (1825–1910) was a Scottish dentist, philanthropist and pioneering educator. The founder of the Edinburgh school of dentistry, he served as president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1883) and president of the British Dental Association. He was the official surgeon/dentist to Queen Victoria when in Scotland.
John Jamieson was a Scottish minister of religion, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary. His most important work is the Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language.
William Lindsay Alexander FRSE LLD was a Scottish church leader.
John Colin Dunlop FRSE (1785–1842) was a Scottish advocate and historian.
James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff was a Scottish lawyer and politician.
Sir James David Marwick FRSE was a Scottish lawyer, historian and town clerk. He served as Town Clerk of Glasgow for thirty-one years, during which time the entire city was transformed. Its powers and amenities were improved by by-laws and Acts of Parliament, and Marwick directed the city of Glasgow's development for much of the second half of the 19th century.
Mungo McCallum Fairgrieve FRSE (1872-1937) was a Scottish educator, academic author and amateur meteorologist.
James Simpson Fleming FRSE (1828-1899) was a Scottish lawyer and banker. From 1858 to 1871 he was a partner in the legal firm of McGrigor, Stevenson & Fleming. In the 1870s he was responsible for introducing the Royal Bank of Scotland to London.
James Grant FRSE DD DCL was a Scottish minister. Combining his religious skills with business skills he was also Director of Scottish Widows for 50 years and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1854. During his period as Moderator he was styled as Right Rev James Grant and thereafter as Very Rev James Grant.
James Leslie FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer specialising in docks, harbours bridges and reservoirs, largely on the east coast of Scotland. He was also an amateur meteorologist.
John Vernon Harrison FRSE FGS (1892-1972) was a British structural geologist, explorer and cartographer.
James Campbell Irons FRSE SSC was a Scottish lawyer, historical author and amateur geologist.
James Kinnear WS FRSE (1810-1849) was a Scottish lawyer. His legal title was Master Extraordinary in Chancery and Commissioner of English Affairs.
George MacRitchie Low FRSE PFA (1849-1922) was a Scottish actuary. He twice served as President of the Faculty of Actuaries 1900 to 1903 and was recalled during the First World War serving a second term 1915 to 1919.
William Thomson MD was a Scottish medical author. He was professor of medicine at the University of Glasgow.
John Sturgeon Mackay FRSE LLD (1843–1914) was a Scottish mathematician and academic author.
William Alexander Bryson FRSE, was a Scottish electrical engineer.
Alexander Morgan PEIS FRSE OBE LLD was a Scottish mathematician and educator. He was President of the Educational Institute of Scotland 1911/12. He was involved in the creation of the Education Act 1918.
Ralph Stockman was a Scottish Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics at the University of Glasgow. He was an expert on iron deficiency anaemia.
Dr James Burgess Readman FRSE FCS FSSA was a Scottish chemist who invented an electric furnace for creating phosphorus invented in 1888 and patented in 1889.
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