Thomas Smith (diplomat) facts for kids
.jpg)
Sir Thomas Smith (born December 23, 1513 – died August 12, 1577) was an important English scholar, politician, and diplomat. He helped shape England during the time of kings and queens.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Sir Thomas Smith was born in Saffron Walden, a town in Essex, England. He was the second son of John Smith and Agnes Charnock.
He went to Queens' College, Cambridge, a famous university, and became a Fellow there in 1530. A Fellow is like a special teacher or researcher. In 1533, he became a public professor. He taught about nature and the Greek language.
In 1540, Smith traveled to France and Italy to study more. He earned a law degree from the University of Padua in Italy. When he returned to Cambridge in 1542, he helped change how people pronounced Greek words. His new way of speaking Greek became very popular. He and his friend, Sir John Cheke, were known as the best classical scholars in England at that time.
In 1544, he became the first professor of Civil Law at Cambridge. He was also in charge of the university as vice-chancellor that same year. Later, in 1547, he became the head of Eton College and a leader at Carlisle Cathedral.
Working for the Queen
Sir Thomas Smith quickly became a supporter of Protestantism, a new form of Christianity. This made him important when King Edward VI became king. He started working in government and became the Secretary of State, a very high position. He was also sent on a special trip to Brussels to represent England. In 1548, he was made a knight.
When Queen Mary I took the throne, she was Catholic, so Smith lost his jobs. But when her sister, Queen Elizabeth I, became queen, Smith was again given important roles in the government.
He became a Member of Parliament for Liverpool in 1559. He strongly supported the new religious rules set by Queen Elizabeth. In 1562, he was sent to France as an ambassador. This showed he was becoming a skilled diplomat. He stayed in France until 1566, working with another experienced diplomat, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton.
Smith returned to France briefly in 1572. Even though he had some disagreements with Throckmorton, Smith remained one of Queen Elizabeth's most trusted advisors. He was a long-time friend of Sir William Cecil, who was a very powerful minister. Cecil made Smith a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the monarch.
As a Privy Councillor, Smith had a lot of influence. He helped create new laws and worked to stop extreme ideas. He also spoke in Parliament about important issues like the Treason Bill. He was known for being against torture. Because of his excellent work, he was given even higher positions. In 1572, he became the Chancellor of the Order of the Garter and a principal secretary to the Queen.
A Failed Plan in Ireland
In 1571, Queen Elizabeth I gave Sir Thomas Smith a huge amount of land in East Ulster, Ireland. This land was about 360,000 acres. The idea was to send English settlers there to control areas claimed by the O'Neill family, who were native Irish leaders. The land included most of what is now North Down and the Ards.
However, Smith made a booklet to advertise his new lands. This booklet was read by the O'Neill chief, Sir Brian MacPhelim. Sir Brian had been knighted by Queen Elizabeth just a few years earlier. He was very angry because he felt the Queen had tricked him by secretly planning to take land he claimed.
In response, Sir Brian burned down many important buildings in the area. The English settlers who arrived faced attacks from the O'Neills. The O'Neills used a "scorched earth" tactic, burning abbeys, monasteries, and churches. This left the land "totally waste and void of inhabitants," making it very difficult for Smith's plan to succeed.
Sir Thomas Smith, who was also a Member of Parliament for Essex, died on August 12, 1577, at Hill Hall in Essex.
His Family and Legacy
Sir Thomas Smith was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Carkeke, who died in 1553. His second wife was Philippa Wilford, who passed away in 1578.
.jpg)
He did not have any children with his wives. However, he had an illegitimate son, also named Thomas, who sadly died during the failed settlement in Ireland. His family's legacy continued through his younger brother, George, and George's son, Sir William Smith. Sir William Smith's daughter, Frances Smith, married Sir Matthew Brend, who owned the land where the famous Globe Theatres were built.
Sir Thomas Smith also played a role in the early education of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, a well-known figure of the time.
What He Wrote
Sir Thomas Smith wrote an important book called De Republica Anglorum: the Manner of Government or Policy of the Realm of England. He wrote it between 1562 and 1565, and it was published in 1583. In this book, he described England's government as a "mixed government" and a "commonwealth." He believed that all good governments combine different types of rule.
He also wrote another book titled De recta & emendata lingvæ Anglicæ scriptione, dialogus, which means Correct and Improved English Writing, a Dialogue. This book, published in 1568, was about how to write English correctly.
