Memorial: M6415

Tomb at Old Cemetery, Southampton of Captain John Smith RN d. 1850

Location

Old Cemetery, Southampton, England

Transcript

'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / GEORGE SMITH / LATE A POST-CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY / HE DIED AT SOUTHAMPTON ON THE 6TH OF APRIL 1850 / WHEN IN COMMISSION AS ADMIRALTY SUPERINTENDENT / OF THE ROYAL MAIL PACKETS / HE DEVOTED HIS BEST ENERGIES BOTH AT HOME / AND TOWARDS PARTS OF THE WORLD FOR THE GOOD OF HIS COUNTRY / HE MADE VERY IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVAL GUNNERY / WAS THEN IN COMMAND OF THE EXCELLENT AT PORTSMOUTH / AND AMONG MANY FURTHER VALUABLE INVENTIONS / HE INTRODUCED THE PADDLE BOX LIFE BOATS / ... LIFE HE WAS ... -OVED/ AND WAS EVER GENEROUS AND GOOD OF HEART'

Details

Description: An upturned lifeboat sits upon the top of the tomb accompanied by an anchor with chain attached. This memorial is now very badly damaged by natural causes.
Type: Chest tomb
Position: South of the southernmost chapel
Materials: Stone

People

Smith, George
Age:
Date of Death: 6/4/1850
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Post Captain
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Paddle box lifeboats could be stored above the paddle wheel of early steamships, so economising on a steamer's limited space whilst providing for passenger and crew safety. George Smith's invention was tried first on board HMS Carron in 1839. His lifeboats were stored successfully above each paddle wheel, could accommodate up to 50 passengers each, and did not affect the ship's performance.

JSON

{
  "post_id": "5125",
  "id": "M6415",
  "location": "Old Cemetery, Southampton, England",
  "transcript": "'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / GEORGE SMITH / LATE A POST-CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY / HE DIED AT SOUTHAMPTON ON THE 6TH OF APRIL 1850 / WHEN IN COMMISSION AS ADMIRALTY SUPERINTENDENT / OF THE ROYAL MAIL PACKETS / HE DEVOTED HIS BEST ENERGIES BOTH AT HOME / AND TOWARDS PARTS OF THE WORLD FOR THE GOOD OF HIS COUNTRY / HE MADE VERY IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN NAVAL GUNNERY / WAS THEN IN COMMAND OF THE EXCELLENT AT PORTSMOUTH / AND AMONG MANY FURTHER VALUABLE INVENTIONS / HE INTRODUCED THE PADDLE BOX LIFE BOATS / ... LIFE HE WAS ... -OVED/ AND WAS EVER GENEROUS AND GOOD OF HEART'",
  "content": "<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"http://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M6415Large.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7880\" srcset=\"https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M6415Large.jpg 500w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M6415Large-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" /></figure>\n\n\n<p>Tomb at Old Cemetery, Southampton of Captain John Smith RN d. 1850</p>",
  "images": ["/uploads/2014/05/M6415Large.jpg","/uploads/2014/05/M6415Large-300x200.jpg"],
  "categories": ["Uncategorised"],
  "details": {
    "description": "An upturned lifeboat sits upon the top of the tomb accompanied by an anchor with chain attached. This memorial is now very badly damaged by natural causes.",
    "type": "Chest tomb",
    "position": "South of the southernmost chapel",
    "materials": "Stone",
    "dateErected": "",
    "artists": "",
    "vessel": ""  },
  "event": {
    "event":"",
    "date": "",
    "category": ""  },
  "people": [{"name":"Smith, George","age":"","dateofdeath":"6/4/1850","causeofdeath":"Unknown/None","rankOccupation":"Post Captain","organisation":"Royal Navy"}],
  "extra": {
    "notes": "Paddle box lifeboats could be stored above the paddle wheel of early steamships, so economising on a steamer's limited space whilst providing for passenger and crew safety. George Smith's invention was tried first on board HMS Carron in 1839. His lifeboats were stored successfully above each paddle wheel, could accommodate up to 50 passengers each, and did not affect the ship's performance.",
    "bibliography": "",
    "recorder": "",
    "photographer": ""  }
}

Commemorating seafarers and victims of maritime disasters