Professor Sir Brian Smith CBE FREng FLSW FIET CEng
Sir Brian Smith in 1998
Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University
In office 1993–2001
Preceded by	Sir Aubrey Trotman-Dickenson
Succeeded by	Sir David Grant
Master of St Catherine's College, Oxford
In office 1988–1994
Preceded by	Sir Patrick Nairne
Succeeded by	Raymond Plant
Personal details
Born	Eric Brian Smith (1933-10-10)10 October 1933 North Wales
Died	17 May 2023(2023-05-17) (aged 89) Oxfordshire
Spouse(s)	Margaret A. Barr ​ ​ (m. 1957⁠–⁠1977)​ Regina, Lady Smith
Children	3
Academic background
Education	Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Alma mater	University of Liverpool (BSc, PhD)
Thesis	Gradual transitions in mixed crystals (1957)
Academic work
Discipline	Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
Sub-discipline	Chemical Thermodynamics
Institutions	UC Berkeley Physical Chemistry Laboratory St Catherine's College, Oxford Cardiff University
Notable students	John E. Walker [1]
Main interests	Intermolecular forces, Physiological effects of gases

Professor Sir (Eric) Brian Smith (10 October 1933 – 17 May 2023) was an English physical chemist who was Master of St Catherine's College, Oxford, and vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, Wales.^[2]

Smith was born in North Wales^[3] and attended Wirral Grammar School for Boys^[4]. He read Chemistry at University of Liverpool, earning a BSc followed by a PhD^[5]. Upon completing his PhD, Smith took up a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of California at Berkeley, where he worked with Joel Henry Hildebrand.^[1] He was next a research fellow at the Physical Chemistry Laboratory at Oxford and was a lecturer and a fellow of St Catherine's College from 1960.^[2]

During his career, Smith wrote many influential textbooks in the field of Chemical Thermodynamics. His first textbook, Basic Chemical Thermodynamics (1973), continues to be used widely for teaching at Oxford and beyond. During his lectureship at Oxford, Smith taught John E. Walker, who went on to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997 ^[1].

As a researcher, Smith was particularly interested in the physiological effect of gases. Notable practical applications of his work include innovations to general anaesthetics and deep-sea diving.^[4][6]

Smith was Master of St Catherine's College (1988–94). In 1993, he was appointed vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, a post he held until his retirement in 2001.

From October 1998, Smith held an administrative role at the Welsh Development Agency, where he assisted in opening up Chinese and Indian commercial markets for Wales. Smith was international ambassador for Cardiff University^[7] and served on the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.^[2]

Smith was a recipient of the Potts Medal - a special award for outstanding former students of the Department of Chemistry at University of Liverpool^[8]. Smith also received an honorary DSc from the University of Oxford in recognition of this research, notably his contribution to advances in the technology of deep-sea diving.^[6]

Smith was made a Knight Bachelor for "services to Academic-Business Partnership and to Higher Education" in the 1999 New Year Honours.^[9]

Growing up in North Wales and the Wirral, Smith was an ardent supporter of Liverpool Football Club.^[4]

In 1957, Smith married Margaret A. Barr (d. 2009), who he met at University of Liverpool and with whom he shared three children. Smith and Barr separated some time before 1977^[5]. In 1983, Smith remarried to Regina Ball, stylised as Regina, Lady Smith after Smith was awarded his knighthood in 1999. They remained married until Smith's passing on 17 May 2023, aged 89^[10]. Smith's funeral took place on 17 June 2023 in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.^[11]