Robert Barr Smith

Born on 4 February 1824 at Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland, son of Rev. Dr Robert Smith, Church of Scotland minister, and his wife Marjory, née Barr. Educated at the University of Glasgow, he worked in commerce before migrating to Melbourne in 1854 as partner in Hamilton, Smith & Co. Next year he went to Adelaide, and replaced George Elder in the mercantile and pastoral firm of Elder & Co. In 1856 he married Elder's sister Joanna, and in 1863 he and Thomas Elder became sole partners in Elder Smith & Co.

Smith's philanthropic activity became a legend. A member of the Council of the University of Adelaide for nineteen years, his donations to it totalled £21,400, including £9000 to the library which subsequently bore his name.

He died of senile decay at his residence in Angas Street on 20 November 1915. His estate was sworn for probate at £1,799,500, the largest in South Australia until then; of this, more than £40,000 was left to charities. His funeral, though a private one, was attended by the premier, representatives of the University, prominent citizens, and leaders of Adelaide society. He was survived by his wife, three of his seven daughters and one of his six sons.

Taken from Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, (MUP), 1976