Pierce Galliard Smith (27 October 1826 – 18 November 1908) was a Scottish cleric of theChurch of England, and the rector atSt John the Baptist Church, Reid inCanberra,Australia. He was well known forplanting trees all over his 2330 square kilometre parish.
Born in Lochvale nearLangholm, Smith was the son ofEaglesfield Smith and his wife Judith Ann Irving, daughter ofSir Paulus Aemilius Irving.[1] He was educated atUniversity College, Durham, receiving an M.A. in 1852.[2] He held a post as curate and chaplain inNorthumberland before he arrived inNew South Wales with his family in 1855.[1]
Smith moved to Canberra and lived at a cottage atActon until 1873 when he and his family moved into the new Glebe House (which was demolished in the mid 20th century). Many of Canberra's trees were propagated from the trees that he planted around Glebe House. In 1889 he was thrown from his horse and broke a leg. He was unable to ride again and had to visit his parish in a carriage. In 1905 he retired toQueanbeyan where he died in 1908. He is buried at St John's.
Smith's second daughter, Mary, married George De Salis ofCuppacumbalong Homestead in 1878.
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