Smith, John (1821 - 1885)

Summary

John Smith travelled to New South Wales in 1852 to become Professor of Chemistry and Experimental Physics at the University of Sydney. He was the first professor of chemistry in Australia. The lectures he delivered were largely on current theories of chemical structure, but also on water analyses, one of his principal interests, and photography, in which field he was highly talented. Smith's colleagues at the University included A. M. Thomson and Archibald Liversidge. In 1881 Smith relinquished the professorship of chemistry, while remaining in the Chair of Experimental Physics for another four years. He was a Member of the University Senate and Dean of Medicine, both for over 25 years, although he opposed the establishment of a School of Medicine. Smith was active in civic and cultural affairs of the colony. Respected as an analyst, he advocated against the use of lead and tin alloys in water reticulation systems and chaired the New South Wales Royal Commission Sydney's water supply. A member of the Philosophical Society of New South Wales, he played a leading role in its transformation into the Royal Society of New South Wales, later serving two terms as President. He was heavily involved in reforms to public education as Member of National Board of Education, and was President of Council of Education nine times between 1866 and 1880. Smith was also a Trustee of the Australian Museum, Chairman of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Details

Chronology

1843

Education - MA, Marischal College, Aberdeen, Scotland

1844

Education - MD, Marischal College, Aberdeen, Scotland

1852 - 1856

Career position - Member, Australian Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Science, Commerce and Agriculture

1852 - 1860

Career position - Trustee, Australian Museum

1852 - 1881

Career position - Professor of Chemistry and Experimental Physics, University of Sydney

September 1852

Life event - Arrived in New South Wales

1853 - 1866

Career position - Member, Board of National Education, New South Wales

1855 - 1860

Career position - Secretary, Philosophical Society of New South Wales

1856 - 1866

Career position - Member, Philosophical Society of New South Wales

1856 - 1883

Career position - Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Unversity of Sydney

1856 - 1885

Career position - Examiner in Medicine, University of Sydney

1861 - 1885

Career position - Member of the Senate (ex officio), University of Sydney

1862

Career position - Secretary, Philosophical Society of New South Wales

1864 - 1866

Career position - Member of Council, Philosophical Society of New South Wales

1864 - 1873

Career position - Member of the Board, Australian Mutual Provident Society

1865 - 1872

Career position - Trustee, Australian Museum

1866 - 1867

Career position - Honorary Treasurer, Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary

1866 - 1885

Career position - Member, Royal Society of New South Wales

1867 - 1869

Career position - President, Commission inquiring into the supply of water to Sydney and its suburbs

1873 - 1880

Career position - Chairman, Australian Mutual Provident Society

July 1874 - 1877?

Career position - Member of Legislative Council (appointed), Parliament of New South Wales

1875

Career position - Member, Royal Commission on the Sydney and Suburban Sewerage and Water Supply

1876

Award - LLD honoris causa, University of Aberdeen, Scotland

1877 - 1885

Career position - Member (life appointment), Legislative Council, Parliament of New South Wales

1878

Award - Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

1880 - 1881

Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales

1881 - 1885

Career position - Professor of Experimental Physics, University of Sydney

1883 - 1884

Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales

1883 - 1885

Career position - Chairman, Australian Mutual Provident Society

Related entries

Archival resources

Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales

• H. Parkes - Records, A925; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details

University of Sydney, Archives

• John (1) Smith - Records, 1852 - 1881; University of Sydney, Archives. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

• Collins, David, Chemistry in 19th Australia - Select Bibliography, An exhibition of the Encyclopedia circa 2005 with assistance from Ailie Smith and Gavan McCarthy., eScholarship Research Centre (original publisher), Melbourne, 2009, https://eoas.info/exhibitions/ciab/ciab_ALL.html. Details

Book Sections

• Hoare, Michael; Radford, Joan T., 'Smith, John (1821-1885), professor of chemistry and experimental physics' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 6: 1851 - 1890 R - Z, Bede Nairn, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1976), pp. 148-150. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-john-4608. Details

Edited Books

• MacLeod, R. ed., University and Community in Nineteenth Century Sydney: Professor John Smith, 1821-1885 (Sydney: University of Sydney Press, 1988), 110 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Burke, K., 'Early Photographic Processes and the John Smith Collection', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, 26 (1959), 354-355. Details
• Le Fevre, R.J.W., 'John Smith, First Professor of Chemistry in Australia', The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Proceedings, 26 (1959), 348-353. Details
• Liversidge, Archibald, 'President's Address', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 20 (1886), 1-41. Details
• Liversidge, Professor, 'Anniversary adress', Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 20 (1886), 1-41. Details
• MacMillan, D., 'The Photography of Professor John Smith', Union Recorder (1962). Details
• MacMillan, David S., 'Professor John Smith and the Beginnings of Photography in Australia.', The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Proceedings, 26 (1959), 242-247. Details
• Smith, J., 'Opening address to the Royal Society, delivered at its first meeting, 12th May, 1871', Transactions of the Royal Society of New South Wales, [5] (1872), 1-14. Details
• Smith, J., 'Anniversary Address', Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 15 (1881), 1-20. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q16062967. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/93335066. Details
• Early Chemists of Sydney, 2006, http://members.optusnet.com.au/jph8524/McKern.htm. Details
• 'Smith, John (18211212-18851012)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1767794. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Smith, John', in Physics in Australia to 1945, R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham, Australian Science Archives Project, June 1995, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/physics/P000787p.htm. Details

See also

• Science and the making of Victoria, with Royal Society of Victoria, 2001, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/smv/index_s.html. Details
• 'Smith, John (1821 - 1885)', Members of NSW Parliament, Parliament of New South Wales, Sydney, 2025, https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/profiles/smith_john-1.aspx. Details