Smirke, Sir Robert

SMIRKE, Sir Robert (1780-1867), a leading 19th C. architect in England who lived and worked in London. In 1828 he was commissioned to complete several works in the British colony of Newfoundland, including a 3 storey Debtor's Ward, a Felon's Ward, a Misdemeanor's Ward, a Ward for Lunatics, and a 3 storey Keeper's House, all located in St. John's, Nfld. Designed in the form of an octagon with wings, it is unclear if any portion of the complex was built, but the original architectural drawings by Smirke have survived and can be found in the Public Record Office in London, with copies of these drawings retained by the Public Archives Office in St. John's.

Smirke was born in London on 1 October 1780 and in May 1796 he became a student of John Soane, but left that office within months because of a personality clash between himself and his master. He then trained under George Dance Jr., and later studied architecture at the Royal Academy in London, winning Silver and Gold medals for his drawings. He became a master of the Greek Revival style, and his most important commission was for The British Museum, London (1823-1846), taking more than 20 years to complete. He was also adept at employing the Gothic Revival style for his domestic castles in the countryside, but his entire output was devoted to locations in England and Scotland. His project in Newfoundland appears to have been his only Canadian commission. Dance died on 18 April 1867 at Cheltenham, England (obituary Builder [London], 27 April 1867, 287; and 11 May 1867, 335; obituary Building News [London], xiv, 1867, 567-68; biog. and list works in MacMillan Encyclopedia of Architects, 1982, vol. 4, 84-87; biog. R.I.B.A., Directory of British Architects, 2001, Vol. 2, 632-33). The R.I.B.A. Drawings Collection, now housed at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, holds an extensive collection of architectural drawings by Smirke

ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., a Ward for Felons, or Gaol Building, 1828 (England, Public Record Office, London, dwgs in PRO S/Q 973 T 1/4040; Howard Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 1995, 875-881, with biography and list of works)