His mother was noted writer and feminist Charlotte Smith. His father was Benjamin Smith, and his paternal grandfather was Richard Smith, a wealthy merchant and slave-owner.[1]
During his governorship, the United Kingdom passed the Abolition Act that stated that slavery "shall be and is hereby utterly abolished and unlawful". On 1 August 1838, Governor Sir Lionel read the Proclamation of Freedom to a crowd of 8,000 at the Celebration of emancipation in the Square of Spanish Town, the then capital of Jamaica. The day has since been a day of celebration on Jamaica and a public holiday since 1893.
He left Jamaica in 1839 having run into difficulties with the passing of the Prisons Act and dissolving Jamaica's Assembly. Lionel Town, Clarendon is named after the Governor.
With his first wife, Ellen Marianne (d. 1814), daughter of Thomas Galway of Killery, co. Kerry, he had two daughters, Ellen Maria and Mary Anne.
On 20 November 1819 he married Isabella Curwen, youngest daughter of Eldred Curwen Pottinger of Mount Pottinger, co. Down, and sister of Sir Henry Pottinger. She died three days after her husband, leaving four children, Lionel Eldred, Augusta, Isabella, and Charlotte. Isabella married George Floyd Duckett in 1845.[5]
ReferencesEdit
^John Bernard Burke (1845). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. H. Colburn. p. 914.
lionel, smith, baronet, general, october, 1778, january, 1842, british, diplomat, colonial, administrator, soldier, contents, life, family, references, external, linkslife, edithis, mother, noted, writer, feminist, charlotte, smith, father, benjamin, smith, pa. General Sir Lionel Smith 1st Baronet GCB GCH 9 October 1778 2 January 1842 was a British diplomat colonial administrator and soldier Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 References 4 External linksLife EditHis mother was noted writer and feminist Charlotte Smith His father was Benjamin Smith and his paternal grandfather was Richard Smith a wealthy merchant and slave owner 1 In 1821 General Smith then serving in the Bombay Army commanded a punitive campaign against the Bani Bu Ali tribe in Oman Lionel Smith was Governor of Tobago in 1833 and then Governor of Barbados 1833 1836 Viceroy of the colony of Windward Islands which then included Grenada from 1833 to 1836 He was awarded a baronetcy on 19 July 1838 for his service as Governor of Jamaica from 1836 to 1839 During his governorship the United Kingdom passed the Abolition Act that stated that slavery shall be and is hereby utterly abolished and unlawful On 1 August 1838 Governor Sir Lionel read the Proclamation of Freedom to a crowd of 8 000 at the Celebration of emancipation in the Square of Spanish Town the then capital of Jamaica The day has since been a day of celebration on Jamaica and a public holiday since 1893 He was made Colonel of the 96th Regiment of Foot from 1832 to 1834 and later of the 40th Regiment of Foot from 1837 for life He left Jamaica in 1839 having run into difficulties with the passing of the Prisons Act and dissolving Jamaica s Assembly Lionel Town Clarendon is named after the Governor He was the fifth Governor of Mauritius from 16 July 1840 to 2 January 1842 2 Family EditSmith was twice married 3 4 With his first wife Ellen Marianne d 1814 daughter of Thomas Galway of Killery co Kerry he had two daughters Ellen Maria and Mary Anne On 20 November 1819 he married Isabella Curwen youngest daughter of Eldred Curwen Pottinger of Mount Pottinger co Down and sister of Sir Henry Pottinger She died three days after her husband leaving four children Lionel Eldred Augusta Isabella and Charlotte Isabella married George Floyd Duckett in 1845 5 References Edit John Bernard Burke 1845 A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire H Colburn p 914 Mauritius worldstatesmen org Lee Sidney ed 1898 Smith Lionel Dictionary of National Biography Vol 53 London Smith Elder amp Co John Debrett 1839 The Baronetage of England J G amp F Rivington p 463 Lee Sidney ed 1912 Duckett George Floyd Dictionary of National Biography 2nd supplement Vol 1 London Smith Elder amp Co External links EditThe Road to Freedom Jamaica Gleaner Emancipation in the Jamaica Archives Prorogation of the Jamaica Assembly History of Europe by Archibald AlisonAttribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1898 Smith Lionel Dictionary of National Biography Vol 53 London Smith Elder amp Co Baronetage of the United KingdomNew creation Baronet of Jamaica 1838 1842 Succeeded byLionel Smith GordonGovernment officesPreceded byNathaniel Blackwell Governor of Tobago1833 Succeeded byHenry DarlingPreceded bySir James Frederick Lyon Governor of Barbados and the Windward Islands1833 1836 Succeeded bySir Evan John Murray MacGregorPreceded byThe Marquess of Sligo Governor of Jamaica1836 1839 Succeeded bySir Charles Metcalfe BtPreceded bySir William Nicolay Governor of Mauritius1840 1842 Succeeded bySir William Maynard GommMilitary officesPreceded bySir George Cooke Colonel of the 40th Regiment of Foot1837 1842 Succeeded bySir Alexander George WoodfordPreceded bySir Edward Barnes Colonel of the 78th Highlanders Regiment of Foot1834 1837 Succeeded byPaul AndersonPreceded bySir Joseph Fuller Colonel of the 96th Regiment of Foot1832 1834 Succeeded bySir William Thornton Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sir Lionel Smith 1st Baronet amp oldid 1061397219, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
