Robert Smith

Robert Smith

Overview

Robert Smith is a disambiguation page listing numerous individuals named Robert, Bob, or Bobby Smith across various professions and time periods. The page serves as a comprehensive index to help readers distinguish between the many notable people who share this common name.

Business and Philanthropy

The page includes numerous businessmen and philanthropists spanning from the 19th century to the present. Notable figures include Robert MacKay Smith (1802–1888), a Scottish businessman and founder of Glasgow University's Mackay Smith Prizes, and Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915), an Australian businessman and philanthropist. More recent entries include Robert F. Smith (born 1962), an American businessman and founder of Vista Equity Partners, demonstrating the continued prominence of individuals with this name in commercial and philanthropic endeavors.

Entertainment and Culture

The entertainment section is particularly extensive, featuring actors, musicians, writers, and other creative professionals. In music, Robert Smith (born 1959), the lead singer and guitarist of The Cure, stands among the most culturally significant entries. Other notable musicians include Wolfman Jack (1938–1995), the famous disc jockey known for his gravelly voice, and Bobby Smith (1936–2013), the lead singer of the Spinners. The section also encompasses numerous writers, stage performers, comedians, and creative professionals who have contributed significantly to entertainment and popular culture.

Public Service and Governance

The political and governmental sections document Smiths who have served in various capacities across multiple nations. In the United States, entries include Robert Smith (1757–1842), who served as Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy, and Bob Smith (born 1941), a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire. International political figures are also represented, with entries from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, reflecting the global distribution of this common surname among elected and appointed officials.

Science, Academia, and Professional Fields

The page includes distinguished professionals in science, medicine, law, journalism, and academia. Robert Angus Smith (1817–1884), a Scottish chemist, is credited with discovering acid rain—a significant scientific contribution. The section also documents surgeons, physicians, engineers, anthropologists, and historians, many of whom have made substantial contributions to their respective fields. Bob Smith (1879–1950), an American physician, co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, one of the most influential organizations of the 20th century.

Sports

The sports section is notably comprehensive, documenting athletes across multiple disciplines including football (soccer), Australian rules football, gridiron football, baseball, basketball, cricket, hockey, martial arts, water sports, and racing. This reflects the widespread participation of individuals named Robert Smith in competitive athletics throughout history and across diverse sporting traditions worldwide.