John Smith 1657-1726

John SMITH 1657-1726

Biographical Note

Son of Roger Smith of Frolesworth, Leicestershire. Matriculated at Lincoln College, Oxford 1676, but did not graduate; he was admitted at Gray's Inn 1678 (barrister 1684). He became a serjeant at law in 1700 and in the same year was appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas of Ireland; in 1702 he became a baron of the Exchequer of England. From 1708 onwards he spent much of his time in Edinburgh, as one of the barons of the newly-created exchequer there, though he continued to work as a judge in London, where he was buried.

Books

Smith's will has no mention of books, bequeathing the residue of his estate around members of his family (though he had no children himself). "The chief part of [Smith's] library" was sold by retail sale in London, beginning 10 May 1731.

Sources

• Will of John Smith, the National Archives PROB 11/610/94.
• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• A catalogue of the chief part of the library of the Right Hon. Lord Chief Baron Smith, [London, 1731].
• Jones, N. G. "Smith, John (1657–1726), judge." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.