John Henry Smyth

John Henry Smyth (20 March 1780 – 20 October 1822) was a Whig member of Parliament for Cambridge University from 9 June 1812 until his death.

Early life

Smyth was born on 20 March 1780. He was one of four sons and two daughters born to Lady Georgiana FitzRoy (1757–1799) and John Smyth (1748–1811), who served as MP of Pontefract from 1783 to 1807. He was also Lord of the Admiralty, Lord of the Treasury, Master of the Mint, and a Commissioner of the Board of Trade.

His paternal grandparents were John Smyth and the former Bridget Foxley (daughter of Benjamin Foxley of London). His maternal grandparents were Hon. Anne Liddell (daughter of Henry Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth) and Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, the Prime Minister from 1768 to 1770.

Career Before he was elected to Parliament, Smyth was Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department in Pitt's government at his father's request, from July 1804 to February 1806. As an MP from 1812, he supported reduced military spending, reduced taxation, and the end of the slave trade, and he joined the finance committee in 1819.

Personal life Smyth was twice married. His first marriage was to Sarah Caroline Ibbetson, daughter of Henry Ibbetson of St. Anthony's, on 5 July 1810, but she died the following year on 29 May 1811 aged just 25. Henry Smyth (1816–1891), an Army officer who married Rebecca Mary Peirce, daughter of Thomas Peirce.

Descendants Through his son John, he was a grandfather of Diana Smyth, who married Henry Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood.