Smirke, SIR ROBERT

Smirke, SIR ROBERT, architect, was the son of Robert Smirke (1752-1845), a well-known painter and book-illustrator, and was born in London in 1780. He became R.A. in 1811, was architect to the Board of Works, and was knighted in 1831. He died at Cheltenham, 18th April 1867. Smirke's public buildings are usually classical, his domestic dwellings Gothic. London is full of his work. Covent Garden Theatre (1809) was his first great undertaking; the British Museum (1823-47) the greatest. Others of his buildings are the Mint, the Post-office, several of the clubs (including the Carlton), the College of Physicians, King's College, and courts of justice in various parts of the country. He was entrusted with the restoration of York Minster after the fire (1829). Lowther Castle is a specimen of his domestic architecture. His brother Sydney Smirke, R.A. (1799-1877), was associated with him in some of his labours.