Smith, Alexander (1830–1867)

Scottish poet and essayist. His collection of A Life Drama and Other Poems 1853 included ‘A Life Drama’ 1852. In prose he wrote Dreamthorp 1863 (essays), A Summer in Skye 1865, his most attractive and lasting work, and two novels. His reputation was damaged by his links with the poets parodied as the ‘Spasmodic School’ of poetry.

Smith, Alexander (1865–1922)

Scottish-born US physical chemist and educator who emigrated to the USA in 1894. He became affiliated with the department of chemistry at the University of Chicago 1894–1911. During that period, he did important studies on sulphur and on the formation of solid and liquid forms of sulphur. He also developed methods of measuring vapour pressure at high temperatures.

He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was head of the chemistry department at Columbia University 1911–19.