1773 - apprenticed to James Cummyng. 1777 - joined the Edinburgh freemasons. 1778 - began career as a portrait painter. 1783 - visited Italy. 1784 - returned to Edinburgh. 1791 joined the Cape Club. 1792 - started painting stock scenes for the Dumfries Theatre. 1794 - invented the bow and string bridge and arch. 1816 - invented compression riveting.

parent of James Nasmyth, 1808-1890.