Smith, Robert (1)

Smith, Robert (1), an English divine and educator, was born in 1689, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his degrees of A.B. in 1711. A.M. in 1715, LL.D. in 1723, and D.D. in 1739. Information respecting Dr. Smith is very meager. He was mathematical preceptor to William, duke of Cumberland, and master of mechanics to George II. In 1716 he became Plumian professor at Cambridge, and afterwards succeeded Bentley as master of Trinity. He died in 1768. Smith's works are, A Complete System of Optics (1728, 2 vols. 4to), and Harmonics, or the Philosophy of Musical Sounds (1760). See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer Authors, s.v.; Cambridge Graduates; Cumberland, Life; Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.