Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith (13 February 1819 – 17 January 1909) was an Australian lawyer, judge and politician, who served as the fourth Premier of Tasmania from 12 May 1857 until 1 November 1860.

[6] While his mother was a resident of Port-au-Prince, his father was recorded as ‘Sir (sic) Francis Smith, foreign merchant in this town’.

Before May 1824 the family moved to Lindfield, Sussex, where his father bought a farm which he sold prior to leaving for Australia.

In 1838 he began studying law at the Middle Temple and arts at University College London, graduating with a BA in 1840.

He was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1856 and served as Attorney-General in William Champ's first ministry from 1 November 1856 until 26 February 1857.

During his time as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania he displayed legal aptitude, producing well-reasoned judgments.

[6] On ending his distinguished legal and political career, he retired to England where he died on 17 January 1909 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

[18] They had two sons and two daughters;[5] only one of the sons has been identified: o Francis George Villeneuve Smith (1854–1941), solicitor, left Tasmania for Sydney in 1883, on 2 July 1885 married Caroline (Lena) Anne Shadforth Stephen, only child of Mr M. H. Stephen, barrister-at-law.