Thomas Smith

Who was Thomas Smith?

Thomas Smith or Smyth was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1642. He fought for the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

Smith, of Long Ashton in Somerset, was the eldest son of Sir Hugh Smith and his wife Marquess Elizabeth Gorges daughter of Sir Thomas Gorges of Lanford. He was head of wealthy Somerset family, descended from a 16th-century Mayor of Bristol.

In 1628, Smith was elected Member of Parliament for Bridgwater and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In April 1640, he was elected MP for Somerset in the Short Parliament. He was elected MP for Bridgwater again in the Long Parliament from February 1641 until August 1642, when he was disabled from sitting for his sympathies. He joined the Marquess of Hertford's royal army, and was serving with that force when he died at Cardiff in October 1642.

Smith married Florence Poulett, daughter of Lord Poulett, on 12 April 1627. After the Restoration their son, Hugh, was created a baronet.