David Forbes Smith
David Forbes Smith (1865–1923) was a Scottish architect of many of the Edwardian Baroque civic and co-operative buildings in Fife during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. David Forbes Smith was born in Kirkcaldy in 1865 he apprenticed as a carpenter before being articled to John Murray of Kirkcaldy as an architect from 1885 to 1888. He obtained a place in the newly formed partnership of Honeyman & Keppie in Glasgow, overlapping and being photographed in staff pictures with Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and was briefly in the office of Charles Davidson of Paisley before moving to Salisbury as chief assistant to the architect Fred Bath whose office he passed the qualifying exam in 1893.
David Forbes Smith
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- Name
- David Forbes Smith
- Place of death
- Kirkcaldy
- Died
- 28 October 1923
- Born
- 1865 · Kirkcaldy.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Occupation
- architect
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
David Forbes Smith (1865–1923) was a Scottish architect of many of the Edwardian Baroque civic and co-operative buildings in Fife during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. David Forbes Smith was born in Kirkcaldy in 1865 he apprenticed as a carpenter before being articled to John Murray of Kirkcaldy as an architect from 1885 to 1888. He obtained a place in the newly formed partnership of Honeyman & Keppie in Glasgow, overlapping and being photographed in staff pictures with Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and was briefly in the office of Charles Davidson of Paisley before moving to Salisbury as chief assistant to the architect Fred Bath whose office he passed the qualifying exam in 1893.
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David Forbes Smith (1865–1923) was an architect, of British nationality. The architect was born and died in Kirkcaldy. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Biography
Biography
He was admitted as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects on 12 March 1894. In 1898 he returned to his home town, spending the remainder of his career running his own practice (in partnership with Adam Legge Johnston from 1920) until his death on 28 October 1923. He was a successful competitor in several architectural competitions, and his first listed work upon setting up his firm in Kirkcaldy was alterations to The Mechanics Institute, Dysart (now a Category B listed building). Among his principal works were Strathearn House (now the Strathearn Hotel, a Category B listed building) for the industrialist and philanthropist James Wishart, North School, Kirkcaldy; Viewforth High School, Kirkcaldy; blocks of the District Hospital and Kirkcaldy Burgh Infectious Diseases Hospital (now demolished parts of Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy); and Pathhead Baptist Church.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — David Forbes Smith • Practice — David Forbes Smith • Place of death — Kirkcaldy • Died — 28 October 1923 • Birthplace — Kirkcaldy • Birth Name — David Forbes Smith • Illustration — The Strathearn Hotel in Kirkcaldy, a Category B listed building built by the architect David Forbes Smith
Identity
Identity
David Forbes Smith is recorded as a citizen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Recorded with the occupation architect.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1865
David Forbes Smith was born on 1 January 1865.
1923
David Forbes Smith died on 28 October 1923.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “David Forbes Smith”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q101400563: David Forbes Smith
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Dictionary of Scottish Architects – DSA Architect Biography Report (November 8, 2020, 6:13 pm). www.scottisharchitects.org.uk.
- 2.Mackintosh Architecture: Essay – The Office 1888–1913. www.mackintosh-architecture.gla.ac.uk.
- 3.No. 9, Conduit Street. Journal Of The Royal Of British Architects Third Series Vol.31. 1924.
- 4.Stuff, Good. The Mechanics Institute, 54–56 High Street, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife. britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
- 5.Stuff, Good. Strathearn Hotel And Gatepiers, Dysart Road, Kirkcaldy, Kirkcaldy, Fife. britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
- 6.scott. Notable Wisharts : James Wishart (Industrialist & Philanthropist). The Wishart Society.
- 7.Viewforth High School, Loughborough Road, Kirkcaldy Buildings at Risk Register. www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk Dead link. September 2025.
- 8.Pathhead Baptist Church – Kirkcaldy and Dysart, Fife – Places of Worship in Scotland SCHR. www.scottishchurches.org.uk.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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