Robert Smith (architect)

Robert Smith (architect)

The work of Robert Smith (1722-1777) has been part of the Philadelphia skyline for over 200 years. In fact, Smith's work—buildings such as Carpenters' Hall, St. Peter's Church, and the steeple on Christ Church—constituted the greater part of the city's early skyline. To this day the Christ Church steeple is an eye-catching landmark in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood.

Smith was born in Dalkeith Parish, Midlothian, Scotland, into a family that included many masons. As a young man he apprenticed in the building trades, and emigrated to America in the 1740s. He quickly became a member of the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia, and is considered by many to be the foremost master-builder, or carpenter-architect, of the Colonial Period. In fact, Robert Smith, has been called "America's most important 18th Century architect."

Working from published architectural sketchbooks or models of the past, a master-builder would adapt his designs to the building needs and materials of the colonial city. A famous client of Smith's was Benjamin Franklin. While living abroad, Franklin wrote a letter to his wife Deborah in which he complained that Smith was taking too long to complete their house.

It is likely that Smith had a hand in shaping the Carpenter's Company's 1783 handbook for standards of workmanship and pricing. Entitled "The Rules of Work of the Carpenter's Company of the City and County of Philadelphia", this pattern and specifications booklet was one of the first trade manuals printed in America. It was "loaned" to every member of the Company and kept a closely-guarded trade secret. Smith was active in cultural and political affairs. In addition to membership in the Carpenters' Company, Smith was also in the American Philosophical Society and the First Continental Congress. He was appointed by the city of Philadelphia as a Regulator of Party Walls and Partition Fences, a plum political position roughly akin to Building Inspector.

During the Revolutionary War, Smith constructed cheveux-de-frise. These were boxes containing sharp metal-tipped wooden spikes which were weighted down with stones and sunk in the Delaware River to rip holes in the hulls of British warships. Smith died during the War while working on the American Army barracks at Billingsport, New Jersey, part of the defenses on the Delaware River.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Robert Smith — Robert Smith, Rob Smith, Bob Smith or Bobby Smith may refer to: Media *Robert Smith (musician) (born 1959), lead singer/guitarist of The Cure *Robert W. Smith (born 1958), composer *Robert Weston Smith (1939 ndash;1995), disc jockey, better known …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Mills (architect) — Infobox Person name = Robert Mills image size = caption = Robert Mills birth date = August 12 1781 birth place = Charleston, South Carolina death date = March 3 1855 death place = Washington D.C. education = occupation = Architect title = spouse …   Wikipedia

  • James Smith (architect) — James Smith (c. 1645 – 1731), was a Scottish architect, who pioneered the Palladian style in Scotland. He was described by Colen Campbell, in his Vitruvius Britannicus (1715 1725), as the most experienced architect of that kingdom . [Campbell,… …   Wikipedia

  • Adrian Smith (architect) — Infobox Architect caption=Adrian Smith (2007) name=Adrian D. Smith nationality=American birth date=1944 birth place=Chicago, U.S. death date= death place= practice name=Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture significant buildings=Burj Dubai Jin… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert — Infobox Given Name Revised name = Robert imagesize= caption= pronunciation = IPA|rɑbɚrt, IPA|rɒbɚt, IPA|rɒbɚrt gender = Male meaning = Bright Fame region = Germanic origin = related names = Rob, Dick, Dickey, Robbie, Robin, Rupert and Bert… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Alphonso Taft — (* 8. September 1889 in Cincinnati, Ohio; † 31. Juli 1953 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker und Mitglied der Republikanischen Partei. Er entstammt der berühmten Taft Familie aus Ohio, die seit dem 18. Jahrhundert in Ohio lebt… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Robert Pearsall Smith — (1827 1899) was a lay leader in the Holiness movement in the United States and the Higher Life movement in Great Britain. His book Holiness Through Faith (1879) is one of the foundational works of the Holiness movement. He was also a businessman… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Mylne (1633-1710) — Robert Mylne (1633 ndash; 10 December 1710) was a Scottish stonemason and architect. A descendant of the Mylne family of masons and builders, Robert was the last Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland, a post he held from 1668 until his death.… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Edward Petre, 9th Baron Petre — (March 1742 Ingatestone Hall – 2 July 1801) was a British peer.Lord Petre was the son of Robert Petre, 8th Baron Petre (1713 1742), a reknown horticulturist, and Lady Henrietta Anna Mary Barbara Radclyffe (1714 1760), daughter of the 3rd Earl of… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert A. Taft — Ölbildnis Robert A. Tafts. Dieses Ölbildnis befindet sich im Original in den Räumlichkeiten des US Senats, dem Taft lange Zeit angehörte. Dieses Bild ist nicht das ovale Porträt, welches ihm zu Ehren an einem besonderen Platz im Senat gemeinsam… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”