John Smith (1721–1797) [1] was a Scottish physician and academic. [2]
Smith was born in Maybole, Scotland, where his father, William, was a merchant. [1] [3] He studied at the University of Glasgow beginning in 1736, entered Balliol College, Oxford in 1744 with the support of the Snell Exhibition, and earned a B.A. in 1748 and an M.A. in 1751 from Balliol. [1] [3] He then studied under Nathan Alcock in St Mary Hall, earning his doctorate in 1757. [1] [4] Alcock left Oxford for Bath in the same year, and Smith took his place. [4] [5] At Oxford, he taught anatomy and chemistry. [2] [5] Despite not being a mathematician, he held the Savilian chair of geometry from 1766 until his death in 1797. [2]
John Smith (1721–1797) [1] was a Scottish physician and academic. [2]
Smith was born in Maybole, Scotland, where his father, William, was a merchant. [1] [3] He studied at the University of Glasgow beginning in 1736, entered Balliol College, Oxford in 1744 with the support of the Snell Exhibition, and earned a B.A. in 1748 and an M.A. in 1751 from Balliol. [1] [3] He then studied under Nathan Alcock in St Mary Hall, earning his doctorate in 1757. [1] [4] Alcock left Oxford for Bath in the same year, and Smith took his place. [4] [5] At Oxford, he taught anatomy and chemistry. [2] [5] Despite not being a mathematician, he held the Savilian chair of geometry from 1766 until his death in 1797. [2]