‘Select Discourses’ (London, 1660), a volume still read and admired for its refinement of thought and literary ability. His funeral sermon was preached by Simon Patrick (1626–1707) [q. v.], one of the younger fellows of Queens' and his warm admirer. Smith bequeathed his library to the society.
[Copy of Select Discourses in library of St. John's College, Cambridge, with manuscript notes by Thomas Baker; Patrick's Autobiogr. pp. 17, 22, 247; Searle's Hist. of Queens' College, pp. 550, 568; Tulloch's Rational Theology in England, vol. ii.]
SMITH, JOHN (fl. 1633–1673), writer on trade, was apprenticed to Matthew Cradock, a London merchant, a member of the Society for the Fishing Trade of Great Britain, and afterwards became himself a merchant of London. In 1633, while still an apprentice, he was sent by Philip Herbert, earl of Montgomery and fourth earl of Pembroke [q. v.], to visit the Shetland Islands, and to make a report on their trade and industries. He remained in the Orkneys and Shetlands more than a year, and drew up an interesting account of the general condition of the islands and their chief industry, the fishing trade, which he published as ‘The Trade and Fishing of Great Britain displayed; with a Description of the Islands of Orkney and Shotland, by Captain John Smith,’ London, 1661, 4to.
In 1670 Smith published a more elaborate work, in which his former treatise was included, entitled ‘England's Improvement Reviv'd: in a treatise of all Manner of Husbandry and Trade, by Land and Sea,’ London, 4to. This work is prefaced by a eulogistic notice from John Evelyn [q. v.] The chief attention of the writer is devoted to forestry, but it also deals with live-stock and the reclamation of waste land. It is very practical, and is not concerned with economic theory. Another edition was published in 1673.
[Smith's works; Donaldson's Agricultural Biography, p. 34.]
SMITH, JOHN (1630–1679), physician, was born in Buckinghamshire in 1630. He entered Brasenose College, Oxford, on 7 Aug. 1647, and graduated B.A. in 1651, M.A. in 1653, and M.D. on 9 July 1652. He was admitted a candidate of the College of Physicians on 22 Dec. 1659, and a fellow on 2 April 1672. He died at his house in Great St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, in the winter of 1679, and was buried in the parish church.
He was the author of ‘Γηροκομία Βασιλικὴ: King Solomon's Portraiture of Old Age. Wherein is contained a Sacred Anatomy both of Soul and Body. And a Perfect Account of the Infirmities of Age, incident to them both. Printed by J. Hayes for S. Thomson, at the Sign of the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1666.’ A second edition appeared in 1676, and a third in 1752. The book consists of a commentary on Ecclesiastes xii. 1–6, and seeks to show that Solomon was acquainted with the circulation of the blood. The author has been doubtfully identified with John Smith, doctor in physic, author of ‘A Compleat Practice of Physick. Wherein is plainly described the Nature, Causes, Differences, and Signs of all Diseases in the Body of Man. With the choicest Cures for the same,’ London, 1656.
[Munk's Roll of the Royal Coll. of Physicians, i. 366; Wood's Athenæ Oxon., ed. Bliss, iii. 1200; Foster's Alumni Oxon., 1500–1714.]
SMITH, JOHN (fl. 1673–1680), ‘philomath,’ was the author of: 1. ‘Stereometrie,’ London, 1673, 8vo. 2. ‘Horological Dialogues, in three parts, shewing the nature, use, and right management of Clocks and Watches … by J. S., clockmaker,’ London, 1675, 12mo. To the same John Smith is also attributed a technical treatise entitled 3. ‘The Art of Painting, wherein is included The whole Art of Vulgar Painting, according to the best and most approved Rules for preparing and laying on of Oyl Colours … with directions for painting Sun Dials and all manner of Timber work,’ London, 1676, 8vo; the second impression, with some alterations and useful additions, 1687, 8vo; 4th ed. ‘The Art of Painting in Oyl … to which is now added the Art and Mystery of Colouring Maps and other Prints with Water Colours,’ London, 1705, 12mo; another edition 1723, 8vo; 9th ed. 1788. 4. ‘A Complete Discourse of the Nature, Use, and right managing of that Wonderful instrument the Baroscope or quick silver weather glass,’ London, 1688, 8vo. 5. ‘Horological Disquisitions concerning the Nature of Time,’ &c., London, 1694, 8vo; 2nd ed. 1708. 6. ‘The Curiosities of Common Water, or the advantages thereof in preventing and curing many distempers. Gather'd from the Writings of several Eminent Physicians, and also from more than 40 years' experience,’ London, 1722, 8vo; 3rd. ed. 1723; 10th ed. curante Ralph Thoresby. This was an elaborate compilation from medical writers, such as Sir John Floyer [q. v.], Joseph Browne (fl. 1706) [q. v.], Daniel Duncan [q. v.], and others, advocating hydropathy and in praise of temperance and common-sense treatment. It had not only a large circulation in England, but was translated into German and into
