Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Smyth, John Rowland
SMYTH, Sir JOHN ROWLAND (d. 1873), lieutenant-general, was fifth son of Grice Smyth of Ballynatray, co. Waterford, by Mary, daughter and coheiress of H. Mitchell of Mitchellsfort, co. Cork. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was commissioned as cornet in the 16th lancers on 5 July 1821. He was promoted lieutenant on 26 May 1825, and in the following year was present at the capture of Bhartpur (18 Jan.). On 22 April he was made captain on the half-pay list, from which he exchanged to the 32nd foot on 29 Nov. 1827. After ten years' service in that regiment, mostly in Canada, he returned to half-pay on 6 April 1838, and exchanged from it to the 6th dragoon guards (Carabiniers) on 10 May 1839.
On 17 Aug. 1841 he obtained a half-pay majority, and on 6 May 1842 he returned to his old regiment, the 16th lancers. He served with it in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, commanding the advanced wing of cavalry at Maharajpur, and in the Sutlej campaign of 1846, during which he was in command of the regiment. It greatly distinguished itself at Aliwal by routing the Sikh cavalry and breaking up a square of infantry, Smyth being severely wounded while leading it. He was mentioned in despatches, and was made brevet lieutenant-colonel and C.B. He received the medal and clasp for this campaign, having already received the medal and clasp for Bhartpur and the bronze star for Maharajpur.
Smyth was lieutenant-colonel of the 16th lancers from 10 Dec. 1847 till 2 Nov. 1855, when he exchanged to half-pay. He had been given one of the rewards for distinguished service on 1 June 1854, and had been made colonel in the army on 20 June. He became major-general on 22 Dec. 1860, and lieutenant-general on 1 April 1870, and was given the colonelcy of the 6th dragoon guards on 21 Jan. 1868.
Smyth died at Kensington on 14 May 1873. He married Catherine, daughter of the first Lord Tenterden, and had one daughter, who married the fourth Lord Tenterden.
[Times, 17 May 1873; Burke's Landed Gentry; Despatches of Lord Hardinge, Lord Gough, &c., p. 79.]