Laura Alexandrine Smith

Laura Alexandrine Smith (1861–1902) was an English musician, ethnomusicologist and one of the earliest collectors of sea shanties. Smith's The Music of the Waters, published in 1888, was possibly the first collection of sea shanties to include music as well as words.

Life Laura Alexandrine Smith was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1861. Her father was the Russian vice-consul.

Following the success of Music of the Waters, Smith tried in the 1890s to compile a volume of soldiers' songs, 'at a time when the protests about vanishing army music hung heavily in the air'. She requested contributions in Notes and Queries, but received a disappointing lack of replies.

Laura Alexandrine Smith died on 7 June 1902 in Whitechapel, London.