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613:. He was already married to his third wife, Sarah, daughter of William Blount, by the time Smythe was sheriff of London. They had one daughter who died unmarried in 1627; and three sons, two of whom seem to have died before their father. The eldest son, Sir John Smythe of Bidborough, married Isabella Rich, daughter of
576:) from its official settlement by the Virginia Company in 1612, continuing in this role after its split with the Virginia Company in 1614. His connection with the East India Company, the Virginia Company and the Muscovy Company, also led Smythe to promote and support voyages for the discovery of the
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himself at the expense of the company. King James revoked the colony's charter in 1624, making it a royal colony instead. Although Smythe was held to be partly to blame, and despite the king's hatred of tobacco and desire to form a
Christian empire, Smythe nonetheless retained the king's support.
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In 1603, Smythe was re-elected governor of the East India
Company, and, with one break in 1606–1607, continued to hold that office until July 1621, when he was discovered to be involved in the Virginia Company scandal. During this period, the company established trade with
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to honour the patron of his 1616 voyage of discovery. In
January 1618–19, Smythe was appointed one of the commissioners for the settlement of the differences with the Dutch which, however, after years of discussion, remained for the time, unsettled.
561:. The inquiry continued until Smythe's death in 1625, despite the King's refusal to accepted the charges against Smythe. The King's officials continued to consult Smythe on all important matters relating to shipping and to eastern trade.
530:. He became the new colony's treasurer and de facto non-resident governor until his resignation in 1620—two years after Raleigh's execution, and two years before a major revolt caused by Smythe's policy of "rooting out" the
644:, which was founded by his grandfather, Sir Andrew Judd, furthermore to this day one of the 5 day houses at the school is named after him. He also established several charities for the poor of the parish of Tonbridge.
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During that winter, Smythe obtained new privileges for the company. In the spring he went to Moscow to meet with associates. He returned to
Arkhangelsk and sailed for England on 28 May 1604. He was elected MP for
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has been identified with Smythe, though it has been supposed to be that of Sir Daniel Judd. An engraving by Simon Pass is inserted in the
Grenville copy of Smith's
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on its formation in 1615, having and also served as
Governor (in England, with a Deputy Governor serving in the colony itself) of the Somers Isles (or
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Christopher
Hodgkins, Reforming Empire: Protestant Colonialism and Conscience in British Literature (University of Missouri Press, 2002), pp. 154–156.
691:'Chronological list of aldermen: 1601–1650', The Aldermen of the City of London: Temp. Henry III – 1912 (1908), pp. 47–75. Date accessed: 16 July 2011
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During his lifetime, Smythe amassed a large fortune, a considerable part of which he devoted to charitable purposes. He endowed the free school of
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was formed in
October 1600, Smythe was appointed as its first governor by the charter dated 31 December, a position he held for only four months.
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Christopher
Hodgkins, Reforming Empire: Protestant Colonialism and Conscience in British Literature (University of Missouri Press, 2002) p. 154
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Smythe financed numerous
Elizabethan-era trade ventures and voyages of exploration during the early 17th century. In 1592, Smythe obtained
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in Kent on 4 September 1625, and was buried there in St John's Church. An elaborate monument to his memory was installed there.
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141:, c. 1558 – 4 September 1625) was an English merchant, politician and colonial administrator. He was the first governor of the
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Although his name was often spelled "Smith", it was always written "Smythe" by the man himself, as well as by his
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for the year of 1532. His father was also a haberdasher, and was 'customer' of the port of London. He purchased
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After one of his sons married intro the aristocracy, Smythe became part of the "court faction" along with
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Cal. State Papers, North American, 16 July 1622, 20 Feb 8 October 1629, 23 April, 13 May, 15 June 1625
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In February 1600–01, Smythe, serving as London's sheriff, was suspected of being a supporter of the
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Thomas senior, one of thirteen children, was brought in his father's business, and was educated at
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For several years Smythe served as one of the navy's chief commissioners. Smythe was an original
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at Strangford. Smythe married three times. The first two wives must have died young and without
756:"SMYTHE, Sir Thomas (c.1558–1625), of Philpott Lane, London and Bounds Place, Bidborough, Kent"
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330:. He quickly rose to wealth and distinction after entering politics to augment his business.
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197:. Thomas Smythe's elder son, Sir John Smythe or Smith (1556?–1608) of Westenhanger, was
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Members of the pre-1707 English Parliament for constituencies in Cornwall
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from 1597 to 1601. In 1597, he was briefly elected to Parliament for
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929: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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655:(London, 1605, 4to). It is reproduced in Wadmore's memoir (1892).
888:"Thomas Smythe, of Westenhanger, Commonly Called Customer Smythe"
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of the Native Americans and the expansion of the tobacco crop.
406:. He was fired from his office of sheriff and committed to the
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495:, Smythe involved himself in the Muscovy trade. Sailing from
491:, Lord Mayor of London (1550) and one of the founders of the
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Thomas Smythe's letter to Fedor II of Russia (20 April 1605)
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Stevens, Court Records of the East India Company, 1599–1603
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for the City of London from 1597 to 1598, and Treasurer of
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Morgan, Basil (2004). "Smythe, Sir Thomas (c.1558–1625)".
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Cal. State Papers, Dom. 8 January 1619, 6? December 1624.
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The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604–1629
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In 1580, young Smythe was admitted to the freedom of the
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In 1609, Smythe obtained a royal charter for the London
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Meanwhile, in 1604, Smythe with his younger brother
832:Dietz, Brian (2004). "Smythe, Thomas (1522–1591)".
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Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1601–3, 13, 18, 24 February
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948:. Vol. 53. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
386:who, on 8 February, went to Smythe's house in
149:from 1609 to 1620 until enveloped by scandal.
390:. Smythe advised Essex to turn himself in to
865:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
838:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
782:, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010
165:in Kent, by his wife Alice, daughter of Sir
90:Merchant, politician, colonial administrator
16:English merchant and colonial administrator
541:In 1620, Smythe was formally charged with
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19:For other people named Thomas Smythe, see
973:People from Folkestone and Hythe District
310:Learn how and when to remove this message
898:. London: Mitchell & Hughes: 193–208
810:Cal. State Papers, Dom. 11 December 1624
677:Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
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862:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
835:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
705:Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth
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499:on 13 June 1603, his party arrived at
203:Thomas Smythe, 1st Viscount Strangford
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703:"Portrait of Sir Thomas Smythe from
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248:adding citations to reliable sources
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983:16th-century English businesspeople
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653:Voiage and Entertainment in Rushia
384:Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
324:Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
169:. His grandfather, John Smythe of
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993:British East India Company people
623:John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor
1013:Prisoners in the Tower of London
998:Ambassadors of England to Russia
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615:Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick
442:Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick
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355:sheriffs of the City of London
328:Worshipful Company of Skinners
21:Thomas Smythe (disambiguation)
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557:(Smythe's former deputy) and
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353:and chosen as one of the two
216:Business and political career
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879:UK public library membership
852:UK public library membership
647:A portrait belonging to the
549:Parliamentarians urging the
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157:The second surviving son of
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978:People from Sutton-at-Hone
940:Smith, Thomas (1558?-1625)
413:On 13 May 1603, after the
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159:Thomas "Customer" Smythe
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553:investigation included
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431:Sir Valentine Knightley
201:in 1600, and father of
886:Wadmore, J.F. (1887).
871:10.1093/ref:odnb/25908
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181:and clothier, and was
1038:English MPs 1621–1622
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1023:English MPs 1597–1598
892:Archaeologia Cantiana
568:(shareholder) of the
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183:High Sheriff of Essex
145:and treasurer of the
570:Somers Isles Company
536:religious conversion
396:Lord Mayor of London
244:improve this article
199:High Sheriff of Kent
191:Sir Thomas Sackville
672:"Sir Thomas Smythe"
173:, was described as
163:Westenhanger Castle
580:in North America.
578:North-West Passage
475:were appointed as
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388:Gracechurch Street
377:East India Company
351:Farringdon Without
171:Corsham, Wiltshire
143:East India Company
100:East India Company
988:English merchants
877:(Subscription or
850:(Subscription or
649:Skinners' Company
619:Penelope Devereux
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400:Essex Rebellion
366:Virginia colony
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242:Please help
237:verification
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167:Andrew Judde
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109:Sarah Blount
65:(1625-09-04)
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968:1625 deaths
936:Lee, Sidney
919:Attribution
586:Smith Sound
501:Arkhangelsk
179:haberdasher
79:Nationality
957:Categories
881:required.)
854:required.)
826:References
566:adventurer
505:Kholmogory
362:settlement
357:for 1600.
270:newspapers
153:Early life
709:. Sarah,
642:Tonbridge
590:Greenland
543:enriching
513:Yaroslavl
497:Gravesend
477:receivers
452:in 1622.
415:accession
375:When the
368:from Sir
343:Aylesbury
122:Parent(s)
902:11 April
762:11 April
711:Countess
588:between
479:for the
448:and for
446:Sandwich
423:knighted
347:alderman
212:(1571).
114:Children
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717:, 1825.
574:Bermuda
521:Dunwich
509:Vologda
450:Saltash
427:Dunwich
419:James I
335:Auditor
284:scholar
82:English
55:c. 1558
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584:named
394:, the
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175:yeoman
106:Spouse
715:Essex
659:Notes
611:issue
551:graft
458:India
291:JSTOR
277:books
189:from
139:Smith
904:2013
896:XVII
764:2013
617:and
592:and
507:and
349:for
263:news
137:(or
60:Died
52:Born
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