Born: around 1734? and died 3 July 1803.
Son of: not known
Brother of: not known.
Richard married: 25 September 1756 in Madras (British Library N/2/1 f.271 ), Amelia Hopkins, daughter of Capt Charles Hopkins (died 1757) and Phillis Hopkins nee Bright (died 1795?).
Richard and Amelia had issue:
1. John Maunsill Smith (John Mannseur Smith?).

Richard was possibly also the natual father, via his sister in law, of Amelia Marsh (nee Cuthbert, 1765-1793).

Gen Richard Smith: An Overview

We know about Richard from the following sources:

1. A mention in the book 'The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh' by Prof Linda Colley, 2007
2. His will in the National Record Office at Kew.
3. An entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
4. An entry in the Bengal almanac, for 1827, compiled by S. Smith and Co.
5. The book 'A Vindication of General Richard Smith', Chairman of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, as to His Competency (22 March 1783), by Joseph Price, 145 pages.
6. 'A letter to General Richard Smith, in reply to the charges introduced into the ninth report of the Select Committee, affecting the character of Mr. Stuart'.  By Charles Stuart, 1783, 37 pages.

Richard Smith arrived in India and was commissioned into the Madras Army in 1752.  He later returned to London and became a prominent shareholder in the East India Company.  When he went out to India again in 1764 it was as Commander of one of the East India Company's three brigades.  In 1767 he was promoted to Commander-in-Chief, India.  Later he went into politics as Member of Parliament for Wendover in 1780-1784 and then as Member of Parliament for Wareham in 1790-1796.  He lived at Chiltern Lodge near Hungerford in Berkshire.

In his will it would appear that before he died, Richard was living in Park Place, in the Parish of St George Saviour Square, Middelsex.  He notes himself as a Brigadier General in the Service of the Honorable East India Company.  He makes a reference to his natural daughter Amelia Cuthbert.  His son John Maunsill Smith is then noted as his only lawful child.

If you have any information to add to the above please contact me on jj@jjhc.info

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