Right Hon. Lord George Sackville, and afterwards held an office in the royal household,) by Mary, daughter of Pinkney Wilkinson, Esq., an opulent merchant. The union between Sir Sidney’s father and mother, which took place in 1760, being effected without the consent of Mr. Wilkinson, the great property left by that gentleman devolved on his other daughter, Lady Camelford. Captain Smith’s sons being withdrawn from their maternal grandfather’s protection previous to his death, he cancelled a codicil to his will, by which he had made some provision for them.
Our officer was born about the year 1764, and commenced his maritime career in 1777. After serving as Midshipman in the Sandwich, and Greyhound, he was appointed Lieutenant of the Alcide, 74, Captain C. Thompson; in which ship he was present in Admiral Graves’s action off the Chesapeake, Sept. 5, 1781[1]; and in the different skirmishes between Sir Samuel Hood and the Count de Grasse, at St. Christophers[2]. He also particiated in Sir George B. Rodney’s victory, April 12, 1782[3]; subsequent to which glorious event he was made a Commander, in the Fury sloop. His post commission bears date May 7, 1783. Soon after this latter promotion, Captain Smith returned to England in the Nemesis, of 28 guns; and it being a period of profound peace his ship was paid off immediately on her arrival.
In 1788, upon the appearance of a rupture between Sweden and Russia, our officer entered into the service of the former power, and served with great credit until the peace of Reichenback, when he was complimented by King Gustavus with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword, on account of his judicious advice and distinguished bravery in several encounters with the fleet of the Empress Catharine[4]. He had the
- ↑ See p. 133.
- ↑ See Retired Captain, John N. Inglefield.
- ↑ See p. 35, et seq.
- ↑ On the 3d and 4th June, 1790, two desperate battles were fought between the belligerent fleets in the Gulf of Wibourg, in which the Swedes lost seven ships of the line, three frigates, six gallies, and about sixty smaller vessels. The Russians also suffered severely. The slaughter was particularly fatal to the English officers in that service; Captains Dawson and Treveneu were killed; Captain Marshall also lost his life on the same occasion; being mortally wounded, his ship sunk under him, and went
