John Smith (banker)

John Smith JP (29 August 1797 – 23 September 1866) was a Scottish banker and philanthropist. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and spent most of his adult life running Beckett's Bank in Leeds, England. In retirement, he lived in Harrogate.

Smith supported many charities, funding churches, schools and other causes in Abetdeen and Leeds. He paid for one of the bells in Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen, and funded most of the building of St Matthias' Church, Burley, as well as Burley's vicarage and school, and other local needs. He was an active member of Leeds Chamber of Commerce and a Justice of the Peace. However he is remembered today for his foundation of "Belvedere", the Harrogate mansion which was built for him by Richard Ellis and designed by Perkin and Backhouse, and also for his large stone monument which stands in Grove Road Cemetery.