- Robert Smirke (architect)
Sir Robert Smirke (1781-18 April 1876) was an English
architect .Biography
Smirke was the son of portrait painter Robert Smirke, and studied
architecture as a pupil of classical architectJohn Soane in 1796, the same year he commenced his studies at theRoyal Academy . He also studied and travelled in southernEurope for several years.Smirke designed public buildings in the classical style, among the most famous being those still standing in London, including:
* theRoyal Mint , Tower Hill (1809);
* the main block and facade of theBritish Museum , Bloomsbury (1823-31);
* theRoyal College of Physicians building inTrafalgar Square (now known asCanada House ) (1824-27);
* the east wing ofSomerset House , and the adjacent King's (formerly Smirke) Building ofKing's College London , on the Strand (1831).Of those no longer extant, he also designed:
* the second incarnation of the Covent Garden Theatre, now theRoyal Opera House (1808-9, but destroyed by fire in 1857),
* the General Post Office building in St Martins-le-Grand in theCity of London (1825-1829, but demolished c. 1910).His buildings outside London included the Shire Halls of
Gloucester ,Shrewsbury ,Hereford and theOld Council House, Bristol .Domestic buildings include alterations to
Luton Hoo ,Bedfordshire , and Hardwicke Court, near Gloucester. His domestic buildings in theneo-Gothic style includeLowther Castle inCumbria , his first job in 1806 when he was 25, andEastnor Castle ,Ledbury ,Herefordshire , designed in the early 19th century.Together with John Nash and Sir
John Soane , he became official architect to theOffice of Works in 1813. He advised the Parliamentary Commissioners on the building of new Churches from 1818 onwards, contributing four himself, includingSt George, Brandon Hill inBristol .He was knighted in 1832, and received the RIBA
Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 1853.His brothers were also notable -
Sydney Smirke was also an architect, best known for the circular reading room at theBritish Museum , andEdward Smirke was a lawyer and antiquarian.Robert Smirke lived at 81 Charlotte Street, London. A
blue plaque commemorating his residence is situated on the exterior of the building. He died inCheltenham on 18 April 1867.References
* H.M. Colvin, "A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840" (1997) ISBN 0-300-07207-4
External links
* [http://www.visitcumbria.com/robsmirk.htm Smirke's work in Cumbria]
* [http://www.eastnorcastle.com/history.htm Eastnor Castle, designed by Robert Smirke]
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