James Smith

James Smith (1808–1863) was a 19th-century Scottish architect who specialised in very large country mansions. Life He was born in Alloa on 12 October 1808 the son of John Smith, a builder, and his wife Betty Thompson. His father had worked with James Gillespie Graham on the rebuilding of Alloa Parish Church. In 1826 the family moved to Glasgow. In 1835 they were living at 81 Wellington Place and the father had offices at 22 Royal Exchange Square (quite a prestigious address). From 1837 he took over from his father and began stylising himself as "architect". In 1850 the family was living at 230 Sauchiehall Street and Smith had offices at 123 St Vincent Street. In 1854 he moved to a large country house of his own design in Rhu which he named Rowaleyn.