Person Smethwick; Francis (1619 - 1682); virtuoso Smethwick Francis virtuoso Smithwick 1619 - 1682 British Male 9 January 1619 16190109 1682 1682

Education: Pupil of William Oughtred; University of Oxford (MA 1642); Incorporated at Cambridge (1671) Career: Library-Keeper at Westminster; amateur instrument maker Parents: Thomas Smethwick and Mary Lawrence Not much is known about Smethwick's life and career although some sources state that, in relation to his activities as an instrument maker, he also worked with Robert Hooke (FRS 1663). His inventions were discussed in Royal Society correspondence. Ejected due to non-payment of arrears 9 August 1682 Fellow 04/04/1667 John Wilkins 9 August 1682 Presented some telescopic glasses and other instruments to the Society (1667/8); Expelled due to non-payment of arrears Sources: Bulloch's Roll; Venn; Hunter References: Hegarty, A. 2011. A Biographical Register of St John's College, Oxford, 1555-1660' (Boydell & Brewer) Sweet, J M. 1953. 'Sir Hans Sloane's Metalline Cubes', in Notes and Records, vol. 10, pp. 99-100 Turnbull, G H. 1953. 'Samuel Hartlib's Influence on the Early History of the Royal Society', in Notes and Records, vol. 10, pp. 101-130 Notes: Taylor 'Math Practitioners' gives year of death as 1685. VIAF could possibly refer to different Francis Smethwick, bookseller. Possible baptism on 23 April 1620 at Brereton-cum-Smethwick in Cheshire. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 - 1682 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 31/05/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7341 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 14/01/2026 RS_NET\VidaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/68762021 d0d73571-910c-4c45-a09e-f9366f6dc531