Thomas Smith (admiral)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Smith was a British admiral and colonial governor, credited with the invention of the divisional system that remains in use on ships of the Royal Navy
.
around 1707, Smith was the illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton and a woman of whom details are unknown. He was raised a member of the Lyttelton family, who provided for Smith's education and aided him in the beginnings of his career in the Royal Navy.
on 6 February 1728, at the appointment of his commanding officer Sir Charles Wager
. In June of the same year he was moved to the 44-gun Gosport under the command of Captain Duncombe Drake.
While a lieutenant aboard the Gosport, Smith attracted great controversy in an incident involving a French corvette in late November, 1728. At the time of the incident the Gosport was harboured in Plymouth Sound
and Smith was acting-commanding officer due to all of his superiors being ashore. While in command, a French corvette that had entered the Sound for shelter passed the Gosport while departing, and Smith signalled for the French captain ‘to haul in his pennant in respect to the king of Great Britain's colours’. Having already saluted the Royal Citadel of Plymouth, the French captain took this as an affront and the French authorities, upon receiving his report, presented an official letter of complaint to the British government. Smith was thus court-martialed and summarily dismissed from the Navy by king's order on 27 March 1729. However, due to popular outcry at his dismissal, he was reinstated at the same rank and made second lieutenant of the Enterprise
on 12 May of the same year, receiving the nickname 'Tom o'Ten Thousand' from his fellow seamen.
On 5 May 1730, Smith was promoted to the rank of captain and given the command of the 24-gun Success
. Two years after this Smith was given command of the Dursley Galley, a 20-gun fast frigate stationed in the Mediterranean, mainly tasked with patrolling against Barbary Pirates. Remaining mainly in the Mediterranean, Smith remained in this position for a decade.
, on board which he sailed back to Great Britain. Smith then departed aboard the Romney with the fishing fleet to Newfoundland, where he was to become governor. He only held this position for one year, resigning in April 1742, but was appointed again as governor and commander-in-chief in 1743 after a brief return to the Mediterranean.
in September 1745. Around this time Smith spent a lot of time organising anti-invasion defences off the coast of Suffolk and Essex aboard the 40-gun Hastings
. In February 1746 he replaced John Byng as commander-in-chief on the Scottish coast, a position he stayed in until January 1747. Smith was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1748, and in August 1755 he was made commander-in-chief of the Downs Squadron.
Soon after taking command of the Downs Squadron in 1755, Smith began to draft a scheme to combat the problems regarding relations between the officers and the men in the Royal Navy. Under this system the lieutenants on board a ship would be placed in charge of a division of the ship's company, and would be responsible for the health, welfare and efficiency of the men under their jurisdiction. This system became known as the divisional system. While originally confined to Smith's Downs Squadron, it soon spread to other ships in the Service and was widely, though not universally, admired by the end of the Seven Years' War
. By 1765 the system appears to have been the structure of choice for ships in the Royal Navy. A very efficient arrangement, Smith's divisional system resulted in increased efficiency and closer control, as well as improved communications between the officers and men on board.
In December 1756 he was ordered back from the Downs to preside over the trial of Admiral John Byng, at which Smith apparently did his utmost to see that the court's recommendation of leniency was upheld.
Smith then returned to the Downs Squadron on 24 February 1757 after promotion to the rank of Admiral of the Blue, but ill health forced Smith to declare his retirement the following year.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Early life
Born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
around 1707, Smith was the illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton and a woman of whom details are unknown. He was raised a member of the Lyttelton family, who provided for Smith's education and aided him in the beginnings of his career in the Royal Navy.
Early naval career
The precise date as to when Smith entered the Royal Navy is unknown, but his first notable appointment in the Service was to the position of [junior lieutenant aboard the Royal OakHMS Royal Oak (1674)
HMS Royal Oak was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Jonas Shish at Deptford and launched in 1674. She was one of only three Royal Navy ships to be equipped with the Rupertinoe naval gun...
on 6 February 1728, at the appointment of his commanding officer Sir Charles Wager
Charles Wager
Sir Charles Wager was a British Admiral and First Lord of the Admiralty between 1733 and 1742.Despite heroic active service and steadfast administration and diplomatic service, Wager's reputation has suffered from a profoundly mistaken idea that the navy was then at a low ebb...
. In June of the same year he was moved to the 44-gun Gosport under the command of Captain Duncombe Drake.
While a lieutenant aboard the Gosport, Smith attracted great controversy in an incident involving a French corvette in late November, 1728. At the time of the incident the Gosport was harboured in Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Sound, or locally just The Sound, is a bay at Plymouth in England.Its southwest and southeast corners are Penlee Point in Cornwall and Wembury Point on Devon, a distance of about 3 nautical miles . Its northern limit is Plymouth Hoe giving a north-south distance of nearly 3 nautical miles...
and Smith was acting-commanding officer due to all of his superiors being ashore. While in command, a French corvette that had entered the Sound for shelter passed the Gosport while departing, and Smith signalled for the French captain ‘to haul in his pennant in respect to the king of Great Britain's colours’. Having already saluted the Royal Citadel of Plymouth, the French captain took this as an affront and the French authorities, upon receiving his report, presented an official letter of complaint to the British government. Smith was thus court-martialed and summarily dismissed from the Navy by king's order on 27 March 1729. However, due to popular outcry at his dismissal, he was reinstated at the same rank and made second lieutenant of the Enterprise
HMS Enterprise
Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Enterprise while another was planned: was a 24-gun sixth-rate, previously the French frigate L'Entreprise, captured in May 1705. She was wrecked in October 1707. was a 44-gun fifth-rate launched in 1709...
on 12 May of the same year, receiving the nickname 'Tom o'Ten Thousand' from his fellow seamen.
On 5 May 1730, Smith was promoted to the rank of captain and given the command of the 24-gun Success
HMS Success
Sixteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Success, whilst another was planned:* HMS Success was a 34-gun ship, previously the French ship Jules. She was captured in 1650, renamed HMS Old Success in 1660 and was sold in 1662....
. Two years after this Smith was given command of the Dursley Galley, a 20-gun fast frigate stationed in the Mediterranean, mainly tasked with patrolling against Barbary Pirates. Remaining mainly in the Mediterranean, Smith remained in this position for a decade.
Tenures as Governor of Newfoundland
In 1740 Smith transferred to the 50-gun RomneyHMS Romney (1708)
HMS Romney was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Sir Joseph Allin to the 1706 Establishment at Deptford Dockyard, and launched on 2 December 1708....
, on board which he sailed back to Great Britain. Smith then departed aboard the Romney with the fishing fleet to Newfoundland, where he was to become governor. He only held this position for one year, resigning in April 1742, but was appointed again as governor and commander-in-chief in 1743 after a brief return to the Mediterranean.
Late naval career and the creation of the divisional system
Smith left the post of governor for good and was placed in command of the 100-gun Royal SovereignHMS Royal Sovereign (1701)
HMS Royal Sovereign was a 100-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Woolwich Dockyard and launched in July 1701. She had been built using some of the salvageable timbers from the previous , which had been destroyed by fire in 1697....
in September 1745. Around this time Smith spent a lot of time organising anti-invasion defences off the coast of Suffolk and Essex aboard the 40-gun Hastings
HMS Hastings
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Hastings, after the town of Hastings. Another two were planned, but renamed before entering service:...
. In February 1746 he replaced John Byng as commander-in-chief on the Scottish coast, a position he stayed in until January 1747. Smith was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1748, and in August 1755 he was made commander-in-chief of the Downs Squadron.
Soon after taking command of the Downs Squadron in 1755, Smith began to draft a scheme to combat the problems regarding relations between the officers and the men in the Royal Navy. Under this system the lieutenants on board a ship would be placed in charge of a division of the ship's company, and would be responsible for the health, welfare and efficiency of the men under their jurisdiction. This system became known as the divisional system. While originally confined to Smith's Downs Squadron, it soon spread to other ships in the Service and was widely, though not universally, admired by the end of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. By 1765 the system appears to have been the structure of choice for ships in the Royal Navy. A very efficient arrangement, Smith's divisional system resulted in increased efficiency and closer control, as well as improved communications between the officers and men on board.
In December 1756 he was ordered back from the Downs to preside over the trial of Admiral John Byng, at which Smith apparently did his utmost to see that the court's recommendation of leniency was upheld.
Smith then returned to the Downs Squadron on 24 February 1757 after promotion to the rank of Admiral of the Blue, but ill health forced Smith to declare his retirement the following year.
See also
- Governors of Newfoundland
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador