John Smith (1821-1885)

The Historic Photograph collection has copy negatives of the University of Sydney Archive's collection of several hundred John Smith glass plates. The Historic photograph collection also has a number of stereo albumen prints of Professor John Smith's photographs dating from the same period. The subject areas covered include, the building of the University of Sydney, Sydney Harbour & city c1860 and early homesteads particularly around Glebe.

Background

Professor John Smith was born on the 12th of December 1821 in Scotland. He came to Australia in 1852 as foundation professor of chemistry and experimental physics in the University of Sydney. In 1860 he toured auriferous quartz workings in southern New South Wales and Bendigo with E.W. Ward reporting on methods and machinery. In 1864 Smith advised the government to refuse development in the designated water reserves at Randwick; in 1867 he chaired the royal commission into the water-supply of the city of Sydney and suburbs. In July 1874 Smith was appointed to the legislative council and spoke often on educational and scientific matters. He was dean of the faculty of arts in 1884-1885 and of the faculty of medicine until 1883, and an ex officio member of the senate from 1861-1865. In 1882 he called at Bombay and joined the Indian section of the Theosophical Society. He died of phthisis on the 12th October 1885.