Curiosities of Glasgow citizenship

Short biographical notices of the principal merchants, manufacturers etc of Glasgow in 1783

ARCHIBALD SMITH

ARCHIBALD SMITH, of the firm of Leitch & Smith, West India proprietors, was a younger son of James Smith of Craigend, Strathblane. Early in life he went to Virginia, but on the breaking out of the War of Independence he took the King's side, and, losing his property, returned home, and joining Mr. Leitch, founded the old Glasgow firm that bore their names. In 1799 he was Dean of Guild, and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in 1815. In 1800 he bought Jordanhill, a property now in possession of his great-grandson. His wife was Isobel, daughter of Bailie William Euing, and aunt of the late William Euing of the Royal Exchange, whose fine literary and artistic tastes and numerous charities are still fresh in the memory of his fellow-citizens. Archibald Smith died in 1821, and his widow in 1855, aged 101. Archibald Smith's sons were well-known citizens of Glasgow. The eldest, James, who succeeded to Jordanhill, was senior partner of James and Archibald Smith & Co., West India proprietors, the successors of Leitch & Smith. He never, however, took any active part in its management, leaving that to his youngest brother Archibald, who still survives, in his 86th year, and is one of the oldest Members of the Chamber of Commerce.

[page 238]

James Smith's tastes were of a scientific and literary nature; and while his publications on geology and conchology have been of much value, his most important work is his book on the "Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul." He was a Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and many other learned bodies. He died in 1867. He was succeeded in Jordanhill by his son Archibald, an eminent English lawyer, and a celebrated mathematician. He was the first Scotch Senior Wrangler at Cambridge. (7) He died some years ago, and his son, James Parker Smith, is now the proprietor of Jordanhill. He intends to join the Bar, and so far he has already followed his father's footsteps, having taken, like him, very high honours at Cambridge. Archibald Smith's second son was the late William Smith of Carbeth Guthrie. He was Dean of Guild in 1821, and Lord Provost in 1822. Like his father he was a West India proprietor, and, in partnership with his cousin, Robert Brown, carried on business under the firm of Smith & Brown. Two of his Sons, Cuningham Smith and John Guthrie Smith, of William Euing & Co., grandsons of the subject of this notice, are citizens of Glasgow, and members of the Chamber of Commerce.

(7) See "The Old Country Houses of the Old Glasgow Gentry," Second Edition, p. 142, for notice of Archibald Smith.