Introduction

Biography

Robert was the son of silk weav­er Ro­bert Smith and Ann Whit­cher, and hus­band of Ma­ry Mac­Ni­col (ma­rried 1802).

He was one of the great Scot­tish pre­cent­ors. His first po­si­tion was at Pais­ley Ab­bey, be­gin­ning in 1807.

Andrew Mitch­ell Thom­son in­vit­ed him to be pre­cent­or at St. George’s, Ed­in­burgh, in 1823. Smith ac­cept­ed and stayed there the rest of his life.

Works

• Sac­red Mu­sic, 1825
• The Scot­tish Min­strel
• An In­tro­duct­ion to Sing­ing