Constituency Dates
Middlesex 1701 – 1701, 1702 – 1705, 1710 – 1715
Family and Education
b. ?1661, o.s. of Anthony Smithson of Tottenham High Cross and Armin by Susanna, da. of Sir Edward Barkham, 1st Bt., M.P., of South Acre, Norf. educ. Charterhouse; St. John’s, Camb. 29 Mar. 1680, aged 18; G. Inn 1681. m. (1) 16 Apr. 1691, Hester, da. of Michael Godfrey of Woodford, Essex, sis. of Peter Godfrey, 3s. 4da. d.v.p.; (2) 26 Dec. 1717, Constantia, da. of Henry Hare, M.P., end Baron Coleraine [I], s.p.
Address
Main residences: Tottenham High Cross, Mdx.; Armin, Yorks.
biography text

Smithson, who had inherited estates worth £3,000 p.a. in Middlesex and Yorkshire,1Duke of Leeds to Duke of Somerset, 9 Jan. 1740, Duke of Northumberland’s mss at Alnwick. was a Tory and a member of the October Club. Re-elected for Middlesex in 1715, he voted against the Administration in all recorded divisions but did not stand again. In July 1740, when his cousin and heir, Sir Hugh Smithson, was about to marry Lady Elizabeth Seymour, her grandfather, the 6th Duke of Somerset, insisted that the Tottenham and Armin estates should be included in the marriage settlement. This Smithson refused to do, declaring,

it was true he was no duke, nor boasted of any such great alliances; but that in point of honourable dealing he would yield to no man. That he had given his word that he would leave certain of his estates to Sir Hugh Smithson, and that was sufficient; and he would not be tied down by any lawyers.2Cowslade’s jnl., ibid.

He died shortly afterwards, 4 Sept. 1740, leaving his estates to Sir Hugh.

Author
E.C.
Volume
Commons 1715-1754
Notes
  • 1. Duke of Leeds to Duke of Somerset, 9 Jan. 1740, Duke of Northumberland’s mss at Alnwick.
  • 2. Cowslade’s jnl., ibid.