Sydney Smirke

British architect From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sydney Smirke RA FGS FSA (20 December 1797 – 8 December 1877) was a British architect.

Born20 December 1797[1]
London, England
Died8 December 1877 (aged 79)
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
OccupationArchitect
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Sydney Smirke
Sydney Smirke, 1860s
Born20 December 1797[1]
London, England
Died8 December 1877 (aged 79)
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
OccupationArchitect
AwardsRIBA Royal Gold Medal
BuildingsThe circular reading room at the British Museum
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Smirke was born in London, England, as the fifth son of painter Robert Smirke and his wife, Elizabeth Russell.[2] He was the younger brother of Sir Robert Smirke and Sir Edward Smirke, who was also an architect. Their sister Mary Smirke was a noted painter and translator.[2]

He received the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1860. He became an associate of the Royal Academy (RA) in 1847 and was elected a full Academician in 1859. He served as RA Treasurer from 1861 to 1874, and was professor of Architecture from 1860 to 1865.

Personal life

He married Isabella Dobson, daughter of Newcastle upon Tyne architect John Dobson, on 8 December 1840 at Newcastle upon Tyne.[3]

Among Smirke's numerous apprentices was the successful York architect George Fowler Jones.

Smirke's works

Sydney Smirke's works include:

Lower Sandgate Road, Folkestone, with Tollhouse (1847) by Sidney Smirke

References

Further reading

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