1893 text
Captain Jeremiah Smith (or Smyth), knighted June, 1665; Admiral of the Blue in 1666. He succeeded Sir William Penn as Comptroller of the Victualling Accounts in 1669, and held the office until 1675.
This text comes from a footnote on a diary entry in the 1893 edition edited by Henry B. Wheatley.
3 Annotations
First Reading
Michael Robinson • Link
Smith, Sir Jeremy [Jeremiah] kt. 1665 (d. 1675) Served in the Commonwealth navy; held five commands 1660-8, a flag-officer 1665-8, and a Navy Commissioner 1669-75.
Portrait by Lely & biographical information:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/…
Second Reading
Bill • Link
SMITH, Sir Jeremiah, — was appointed commander of the Mary in 1664. In 1665 he was promoted to the Sovereign, and sent commander-in-chief of a squadron bound to the Streights, with permission to wear the union flag at his main-top-mast head, as soon as he was clear of the channel. He returned from thence, with a convoy, in the month of April 1666, and was appointed admiral of the blue. He hoisted his flag on board the Loyal London, a new ship, of eighty guns, and bore a very conspicuous share in the great victory gained over the Dutch on the 24th of July following. The blue squadron was the weakest of the three which composed the English fleet, while that of Van Tromp, to which it was opposed, was the strongest in that of the Dutch. Notwithstanding these fearful odds of real strength, rendered still more formidable in appearance by the well-known gallantry and ability of the commander, our English admiral bravely parried every attempt made by Tromp to throw him into confusion. Having, by feigning an inferiority and retreat, insensibly and subtilely drawn Tromp to such a distance from the other divisions of his fleet, then very hard pressed by the red and white squadrons under prince Rupert, the duke of Albemarle, and admiral Allen, that he was incapable of rendering them any succour; admiral Smith, as soon as he perceived, he had accomplished this end, immediately proceeded to make head against his antagonist, and compelled him also, in his turn, to retire. This signal advantage, with its consequences, concluded the most memorable naval transactions of this year. In the following spring he was appointed commander-in-chief of a squadron sent to the northward. By his diligence and activity he acquired this country very sufficient amends for the injury it sustained in the attack, made by the Dutch, on their ships in the Medway, by capturing a very considerable number of their merchant vessels, bound from Norway and the Baltic, as well as to and from France, Spain, Portugal, and the Streights. So uneasy did the Dutch feel under these reprisals, that when they quitted the Thames, they sent a strong detachment northward for the purpose of attacking him. The two squadrons met not; and the peace, concluded at Bredah, soon afterwards closed the hostile scene. In the month of October following he brought home a convoy from Kinsale.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.
Bill • Link
In 1668 he hoisted his flag as vice-admiral of the Channel fleet under sir Thomas Allen, at the time the war was expected to take with France. During the time the fleet lay in the Downs, the admirals had the honour of a visit from king Charles and the duke of York. In the month of August following he shewed himself remarkably attentive to the honour of the flag, by compelling a French ship, which appeared to hesitate at paying the necessary and expected compliment, to come to an anchor, till her commander had made a proper and sufficient apology for his neglect. From this period he quitted the line of active service; but was, on the 17th of June 1669, appointed commissioner of the navy, with a salary of 5001. a year, besides an extra allowance for clerks and other incidental charges. We have not been able to obtain any further particulars relative to him, except that he sat as president of a court-martial, held on board the Bezan yacht, in the Thames, on the 16th of September 1670, for the trial of captain Pearce, of the Saphire, and his lieutenant. The time and place of his death is not known.
---Biographia Navalis. J. Charnock, 1794.