Jeremiah Smith (Royal Navy officer)
| Sir Jeremiah Smith | |
|---|---|
Sir Jeremiah Smith, part of the Flagmen of Lowestoft series by Sir Peter Lely
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| Died | October/November 1675 Clapham, England |
| Buried | Hemingbrough |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of England Commonwealth of England
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| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
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| Years of service | Finished 1675 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | |
Sir Jeremiah Smith (sometimes written as Jeremy Smith or Smyth) (died October/November 1675) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the First and Second Anglo-Dutch Wars, rising to the rank of admiral.
Smith served in the Navy during the period of the Commonwealth, commanding ships at several of the battles of the First Anglo-Dutch War. He continued in the Navy after the restoration of the monarchy and was involved in further actions with the Dutch, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. He rose through the ranks to become one of the junior commanders of the royal fleets, and at times commanded squadrons of his own on independent cruises. He was heavily involved in the St. James's Day Battle, where he commanded the English rear, and fought a hard-pitched battle against a Dutch squadron under Cornelis Tromp. Smith became involved in a professional rivalry with another naval officer, Sir Robert Holmes, but successfully repudiated charges of cowardice, and held office in the naval administration, until his death in 1675.
Smith was the third son of Jeremiah Smith, initially of Canterbury, but who is believed to have established himself as a shipowner and merchant based in Hull, and who resided at Birkin with his wife, Frances. The younger Jeremiah Smith may have served in the New Model Army during the English Civil War. He is recorded as having been appointed to command the 42-gun Advice during the period of the Commonwealth, and as having signed the declaration of confidence in the leadership of Oliver Cromwell on 22 April 1653, made by the admirals and captains of the fleet. He commanded Advice at the English victory over the Dutch at the Battle of the Gabbard in June 1653, and the inconclusive Battle of Scheveningen in July that year. From Advice he was appointed to command the newly built Essex in December 1653, and was given a small squadron of warships to patrol in the North Sea.
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