David Forbes Smith
{{short description|Scottish architect (1865–1923)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date = February 2020}}
{{Infobox architect
| name = David Forbes Smith
| nationality = Scottish
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| practice = David Forbes Smith
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| death_place = Kirkcaldy
| image =
| death_date = {{Death date|1923|10|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kirkcaldy
| birth_date =
| birth_name = David Forbes Smith
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File:Tthe Strathearn Hotel in Kirkcaldy, built by the artchitect David Forbes Smith.jpg
David Forbes Smith (1865–1923) was a Scottish architect of many of the Edwardian Baroque civic and co-operative buildings in Fife during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Born in Kirkcaldy in 1865 he apprenticed as a carpenter before being articled to John Murray of Kirkcaldy as an architect from 1885 to 1888.{{Cite web|title=Dictionary of Scottish Architects – DSA Architect Biography Report (November 8, 2020, 6:13 pm)|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=201681|access-date=8 November 2020|website=www.scottisharchitects.org.uk}} He obtained a place in the newly formed partnership of Honeyman & Keppie in Glasgow, overlapping and being photographed in staff pictures with Charles Rennie Mackintosh,{{Cite web|title=Mackintosh Architecture: Essay – The Office 1888–1913|url=https://www.mackintosh-architecture.gla.ac.uk/catalogue/essay/?eid=office_essay|access-date=8 November 2020|website=www.mackintosh-architecture.gla.ac.uk}} and was briefly in the office of Charles Davidson of Paisley before moving to Salisbury as chief assistant to the architect Fred Bath whose office he passed the qualifying exam in 1893. He was admitted as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects on 12 March 1894. In 1898 he returned to his home town, spending the remainder of his career running his own practice (in partnership with Adam Legge Johnston from 1920) until his death on 28 October 1923.{{Cite book|last=No. 9|first=Conduit Street|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56200|title=Journal Of The Royal {{as written|Inst|tute [sic]|reason=archive.org error only}} Of British Architects Third Series Vol.31|date=1924}}
He was a successful competitor in several architectural competitions, and his first listed work upon setting up his firm in Kirkcaldy was alterations to The Mechanics Institute, Dysart (now a Category B listed building{{Cite web|last=Stuff|first=Good|title=The Mechanics Institute, 54–56 High Street, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200381198-the-mechanics-institute-54-56-high-street-dysart-kirkcaldy|access-date=8 November 2020|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}). Among his principal works were Strathearn House (now the Strathearn Hotel, a Category B listed building{{Cite web|last=Stuff|first=Good|title=Strathearn Hotel And Gatepiers, Dysart Road, Kirkcaldy, Kirkcaldy, Fife|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200381223-strathearn-hotel-and-gatepiers-dysart-road-kirkcaldy-kirkcaldy|access-date=8 November 2020|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}) for the industrialist and philanthropist James Wishart,{{Cite web|last=scott|title=Notable Wisharts : James Wishart (Industrialist & Philanthropist)|url=https://wishart.org/index.php/notablewisharts/james-wishart-industrialist-philanthropist/|access-date=8 November 2020|website=The Wishart Society|language=en-US}} North School, Kirkcaldy; Viewforth High School, Kirkcaldy;{{Cite web|title=Viewforth High School, Loughborough Road, Kirkcaldy {{!}} Buildings at Risk Register|url=https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/1041607|access-date=8 November 2020|website=www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk}} blocks of the District Hospital and Kirkcaldy Burgh Infectious Diseases Hospital (now demolished parts of Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy); and Pathhead Baptist Church.{{Cite web|title=Pathhead Baptist Church – Kirkcaldy and Dysart, Fife – Places of Worship in Scotland {{!}} SCHR|url=http://www.scottishchurches.org.uk/sites/site/id/8397/name/Pathhead+Baptist+Church+Kirkcaldy+and+Dysart+Fife|access-date=8 November 2020|website=www.scottishchurches.org.uk}} His partner Adam Legge Johnston continued the practice until his death in 1955.