Ross Smith
Ross Smith (b. 1 May 1815, Mailand, Unst, d. 6 July 1887, Edinburgh) was a watch and compass maker and Lerwick Town Councillor. Smith also had worked as a reporter for the Shetland Advertiser.
Biography
His obituary in the Shetland Times noted that he was a great advocate for the waterworks scheme, and for moving the gasworks further away from residential areas than originally planned. He was a contributor to the Shetland Advertiser, an early newspaper in Shetland. He is described as one of Lerwick's first photographers, and politically moved from Liberal to Conservatism in his older age. The Shetland Times described this transition as "when his health began to fail and he lost some of his vigour, he drifted round to Conservatism".
James W. Irvine, in his book Lerwick: Birth and Growth of an Island Town, notes that Smith was largely responsible for turning inaction into action regarding the building of the 'New Town' in Lerwick.
Political Career
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1844
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1847
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1865
- Lerwick Town Council Election September 1868
