Smith Alexander

Smith, ALEXANDER, born in 1830, followed at first his father's trade of pattern-designer in a linen factory. However, his strong literary tendencies found expression in fugitive verses Contributed to the Glasgow Citizen, and under the patronaage of Gilfillan he got permanent work. In 1853 appeared, A Life Drama and other Poems, which made its author famous for a tune as the chief exponent of "The Spasmodic School," and won him the post of secretary to the Umversity of Edinburgh. In 1855 he published War Sonnets, in conjunction with another rhapsodist, Sydney Dobell and City Poems (1857), with Edwin of Deira (1861), added somewhat to his reputation. He next turned his hand to prose, writing Dreamthorpe, A Summer in, Skye, and Alfred Hagart's Household, none of which were completely successful. His health, never very strong, broke down in 1866, and he died early in the following year.