Sir George Smith (died 21 March 1619) of Madworthy-juxta-Exeter[2] and Madford House, Exeter, Devon, was a merchant who served as MP for Exeter in 1604,[3] was three times Mayor of Exeter and was Exeter's richest citizen, possessing 25 manors.[4] He was the grandfather of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1608-1670) KG and of John Grenville, 1st Earl of Bath (1628–1701).
He was the eldest son of John Smith (died pre 1581) of Borage (or Burridge), near Tiverton, a merchant who served as Sheriff of Exeter in 1565 and Mayor of Exeter in 1567/8, by his wife Alice Muttleberry, daughter of Alexander Muttleberry of Jordans, Somerset.[5][6]
He rebuilt his Exeter townhouse in 1584 at a cost of £1,000.[7] His mercantile activities included dealing in tin, a noted product of Cornwall, and he invested in the colonizing voyage to North America undertaken by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583.[8]
He was Sheriff of Exeter for 1583–84 and Mayor of Exeter for 1586–87, 1597–98 and 1607–08. He was knighted at Greenwich on 12 June 1604.
George Smith married twice:[9]
He died on 21 March 1619 and was buried in Exeter Cathedral. His heir was his son Sir Nicholas Smith. His will was disputed by his widow Grace and his son-in-law Sir Thomas Monck.[14]