Background
He was born at Gask, near Perth, was educated at the school at Perth, and in 1553 incorporated a student in Saint Salvator"s College, Saint Andrews.
He was born at Gask, near Perth, was educated at the school at Perth, and in 1553 incorporated a student in Saint Salvator"s College, Saint Andrews.
University of Street Andrews.
A promising scholar, he was made a regent of the college, and remained there until the reformers gained the ascendency. He was then ejected, and went to Paris. Still a Catholic, he entered the Company of Jesus as a probationer, and proceeded to their college at Rome, visiting Geneva on his way.
He left for Paris, and shortly after proceeded to Clermont, in both places lecturing on the humanities.
In Paris in 1571, Thomas Maitland, a younger brother of William Maitland of Lethington, persuaded Smeton to accompany him to Italy. He was in Paris during the massacre of Saint Bartholomew, taking refuge with Francis Walsingham, the English ambassador.
In 1577 he returned to Scotland, and was appointed minister of Paisley Abbey and dean of faculty to Glasgow University. He soon took a prominent part in church matters.
In October 1578 he was nominated one of the assessors to the moderator in the general assembly, and in the following year was himself chosen moderator.
On 3 January 1580 James VI appointed him principal of Glasgow University, in succession to Andrew Melville. In April 1583 he was again chosen moderator of the general assembly. At this time Andrew Melville was anxious that Smeton should succeed him at the University of Saint Andrews, but the king, instigated by the prior of Saint Andrews, who was opposed to the appointment, forbade his nomination, on the grounds of the loss it would inflict on the university of Glasgow.
On his return to Glasgow Smeton was seized with a high fever, and died on 13 December 1583.