John Smith GCH (1754 - 1837)

Born 22 Feb 1754 in Brighton, Sussex, England

Descendants

Died 2 Jul 1837 at age 83 in Charlton and Kidbrooke, Kent, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

John Smith was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery. He was invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Hanoverian Order (G.C.H.).^[1]

"General Sir John Smith GCH (22 February 1754 – 2 July 1837) was a British army general. In his early career as a Royal Artillery officer he fought in the American War of Independence, being twice captured and imprisoned by the Americans. In his later career Smith was involved in expanding the British Empire in the West Indies by protecting its trade routes, helped keep control of the islands of Gibraltar and Madeira and commanded various artillery regiments."

"Smith was born at Brighton, Sussex, England, on 22 February 1754. There is no record of who his parents were. His first wife, Mary Leigh, died in childbirth, and he married second Grace Weatherall at Chatham, Kent on 17 April 1782, with whom he had five children in total."

John Smith, Bachelor, Esquire, married Grace Weatherall, Spinster, on 7 Apr 1782 at St Mary the Virgin in Chatham, Kent - there were four witnesses: Mary Smith, John Weatherall, Mary Smith, and J Weatherall Junr.^[2]

The children of John and Grace included:

1. Charlotte Rockfort (Smith) Jephson (1783-1854)
2. John Weatherall Smith (1790-1839)
3. Julia (Smith) Baynes (1793-1881)

"General Smith died on 2 July 1837, aged eighty-three, in Charlton, Kent, where he was buried at the parish church of Saint Luke on 10 July."

He was buried with his wife, their gravestone reads^[3]:

"Sacred to the memory of Grace Lady SMITH, dearly beloved and affectionate wife of Lieut-Genl Sir John SMITH, R.A., G.C.N., who departed this life 9 May 1832 aged 80 years.

Sacred also to the memory of Genl Sir John SMITH, G.C.N., Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery and Senior Officer of the Corps. Who departed this life the 2 July 1837 aged 83 years.

Sincerely lamented by a numerous and affectionate family, having served his Country 66 years with honour in many parts of the Globe."

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smith_(British_Army_officer,_born_1754) [Many details of his military career are included here.]

1. ↑ "The Peerage", [digital index], http://www.thepeerage.com/p13527.htm#i135265
2. ↑ FreeReg.org.uk Free UK Parish Registers. Marriage entry for John SMITH & Grace WEATHERALL, 7 Apr 1782: https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817e833e93790eb7fc8bd12/ & https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817e833e93790eb7fc8bd17/ [duplicate entries to include all four witnesses]
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154494283/