Joseph Smith (academic)

by diploma in 1697, having accompanied Sir Joseph Williamson, his godfather, who was one of the British plenipotentiaries, to the negotiations for the Treaty of Ryswick as his private secretary.

Soon after his return in 1700 he took holy orders and obtained from the Provost Timothy Halton the living of Iffley, near Oxford.

In the same year Halton died, and friends proposed him as a candidate for Provost; but Smith backed William Lancaster, his former tutor, who was elected.

He became also chaplain to Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey, who introduced him to Queen Anne, gave him opportunities of preaching before her, and obtained for him the promise of the first vacant canonry in St George's Chapel.

and D.D., and on 29 November was presented by the college to the rectory of Knights Enham and to the donative of Upton Grey, both in Hampshire.

[1] On the accession of George I, Smith was again introduced to court, by the Earl of Grantham, and was made chaplain to the Princess of Wales.

It provoked the reply, Joseph and Benjamin; or Little Demetrius tossed in a Blanket, London, June 1717, an anonymous farce printed by John Morphew.