John Henry Smyth

John Henry Smyth (20 March 1780 – 20 October 1822) was a British politician who served as a Whig Member of Parliament for Cambridge University from 9 June 1812 until his death.

Born on 20 March 1780, Smyth was one of six children of Lady Georgiana FitzRoy (1757–1799) and John Smyth (1748–1811). His father held several public offices, including Member of Parliament for Pontefract from 1783 to 1807, Lord of the Admiralty, Lord of the Treasury, Master of the Mint, and Commissioner of the Board of Trade. Smyth's paternal grandparents were John Smyth and Bridget Foxley, daughter of Benjamin Foxley of London. His maternal grandparents were Hon. Anne Liddell, daughter of Henry Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth, and Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, who served as Prime Minister from 1768 to 1770.

Smyth received his education at Eton College, followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Classics. He also attended the Middle Temple.

Prior to his parliamentary career, Smyth served as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department in William Pitt the Younger’s government from July 1804 to February 1806, at his father's request. He attempted to secure a seat in Parliament in 1802 but was unsuccessful. In 1811, Smyth stood for the Cambridge University constituency after his uncle vacated his seat upon joining the House of Lords but was defeated by Henry Temple, Lord Palmerston, with a vote count of 451 to 345.

In 1812, Smyth was elected unopposed to the same constituency, representing the Whig party. During his time as an MP, he supported policies such as reducing military expenditure, lowering taxes, and ending the slave trade. He also joined the finance committee in 1819. Smyth experienced health issues during his final term in office and spent several months in Hastings in hopes of recovery. He died there on 20 October 1822.

Smyth held the rank of Captain in the South-West Yorkshire Yeomanry and was a governor of Wakefield Grammar School from 1811.

His personal life included two marriages. His first marriage was to Sarah Caroline Ibbetson, daughter of Henry Ibbetson of St. Anthony’s, on 5 July 1810. She died on 29 May 1811 at age 25. From his father, Smyth inherited Heath Hall, located in Wakefield, Yorkshire.

His second marriage was to his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anne FitzRoy, daughter of George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton, on 18 April 1814. They had six children: two sons and four daughters. Their children included John George Smyth (1815–1869), who served as a Conservative MP for the City of York and married Hon. Diana Bosville Macdonald, and Henry Smyth (1816–1891), an Army officer who married Rebecca Mary Peirce. Other daughters were Elizabeth Sarah Smyth, Louisa Georgiana Smyth, Maria Isabella Smyth, and Frances Smyth, each of whom married into various notable families.

Smyth was buried in the churchyard of St. Peter's in Warmfield, Kirkthorpe, where he and his first wife had been married.

His descendants include Diana Smyth, who married Henry Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood, and Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet, a recipient of the Victoria Cross and grandson of Smyth through his second son, Henry.