John Smith (Chancellor of the Exchequer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Smith
Portrait of John Smith by Godfrey Kneller
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office 2 June 1699 – 27 March 1701
Monarch	William III
Preceded by	Charles Montagu
Succeeded by	Henry Boyle
In office 22 April 1708 – 11 August 1710
Monarch	Anne
Preceded by	Henry Boyle
Succeeded by	Robert Harley
Speaker of the House of Commons of Great Britain
In office 23 October 1705 – 1708
Monarch	Anne
Preceded by	Robert Harley
Succeeded by	Richard Onslow
Parliamentary offices Member of the Habeas Corpus Parliament for Ludgershall In office 1679–1679 Serving with Thomas Neale Preceded by William Ashburnham George Legge Succeeded by Thomas Neale John Garrard In office 1689–1690 Serving with John Deane Preceded by Henry Clerke Thomas Neale Succeeded by Thomas Neale John Deane Member of Parliament for Bere Alston In office 1691–1695 Serving with John Swinfen 1691–1694 Henry Hobart 1694–1695 Preceded by Francis Drake John Swinfen Succeeded by John Elwill Henry Hobart Member of Parliament for Andover In office 1695–1707 Serving with Robert Smyth 1695–1698 Anthony Henley 1698–1701 Francis Shepheard 1701–1708 William Guidott 1708–1713 Preceded by Francis Powlett John Pollen Succeeded by William Guidott Ambrose Crowley Member of Parliament for East Looe In office 1715–1724 Serving with James Bateman 1715–1718 Horatio Walpole 1718–1722 William Lowndes 1722–1724 Preceded by Charles Hedges Edward Jennings Succeeded by George Cholmondeley William Lowndes

John Smith (1656–1723) was an important English politician. He lived at Tedworth House in Hampshire. John Smith was a member of both the English and British Parliaments from 1678 to 1723. He held two very important jobs: he was the Speaker and also the Chancellor of the Exchequer twice.

Early Life and Family

John Smith was born in 1656. He was the only son of John Smith of Tedworth House and Mary Wright. His mother's father was Sir Edmund Wright, a well-known London alderman.

John went to St John's College, Oxford when he was 16 years old. Later, in 1674, he joined the Middle Temple, which is a place where people study to become lawyers. His father passed away in 1690, and John inherited his family's estate. In 1692, he also inherited property from his uncle, Thomas Smith.

Political Career Highlights

John Smith was a member of the Whig Party, which was a major political group at the time. He first became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ludgershall in 1679. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in Parliament.

Becoming a Lord of the Treasury

In 1691, John Smith became an MP for Bere Alston. Three years later, in 1694, he was chosen to be a Lord of the Treasury. This meant he helped manage the country's money. He also became a Privy Councillor in 1695. A Privy Councillor is a special advisor to the King or Queen.

Tedworth House, as rebuilt in the 19th century

First Time as Chancellor of the Exchequer

From 1695, John Smith was an MP for Andover. On June 2, 1699, he got a very important job: Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is in charge of the government's money and taxes. He kept this job until March 27, 1701.

Serving as Speaker of the House of Commons

In 1705, John Smith was re-elected as MP for Andover. He was then chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker is like the referee of Parliament, making sure debates are fair and rules are followed. He was the last Speaker of the old House of Commons of England.

After the Acts of Union 1707 joined England and Scotland, he became the very first Speaker of the new House of Commons of Great Britain.

Second Time as Chancellor of the Exchequer

In 1708, John Smith became Chancellor of the Exchequer again. He held this role until August 11, 1710. After this, he was given a good job called Teller of the Exchequer, which he kept for the rest of his life.

John Smith continued to serve as an MP. He represented East Looe in Parliament from 1715 until his death in 1723.

Personal Life and Family

John Smith married Anne Steward in 1679, but she sadly passed away in 1680. He then married Anne Strickland in 1683.

John Smith died on October 2, 1723. He was buried in the old church at South Tidworth. He and his second wife, Anne, had four sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Thomas, also became a Whig Member of Parliament, just like his father.

Arms of John Smith

Escutcheon Quarterly: 1st & 4th: azure, two bars between three pheons or (for Smith) 2nd & 3rd: Argent, a mullet pierced sable (for Assheton)