Sir William Sidney Smith KCB (21 June 1764 – 26 May 1840) was the British admiral of whom Napoleon Bonaparte said, "That man made me miss my destiny". Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... 1764 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Admiral is a word from the Arabic term Amir-al-bahr (commander of the sea). ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français...

Early life and career

Sidney Smith, as he always called himself, was born into a military and naval family with connections to the Pitt family. He was the second son of Captain John Smith of the Guards, and was born at Westminster. He joined the Royal Navy in 1777 and fought in the American Revolutionary War, where he saw action in 1778 against the American frigate Raleigh. The Right Honourable William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (15 November 1708–11 May 1778) was a British Whig statesman who achieved his greatest fame as war minister during the Seven Years War (aka French and Indian War) and who was later Prime Minister of Great Britain. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France,Netherlands, Spain, allies British Empire, German states, allies Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties {{{casualties1}}} {{{casualties2}}} {{{notes}}} The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War for Independence, was the military... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Frigate is a name which has been used for several distinct types of warships at different times. ... USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the United States Navy in 1775. ...

For his bravery under Rodney in the action near Cape St Vincent in January 1780, he was on September 25 appointed lieutenant of the 74-gun third-rate Alcide, despite being under the required age of nineteen. Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719–1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (February 1718 – May 24, 1792), was a British naval officer. ... For the battle of the Nine Years War, see Battle of Cape St. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ... The Redoutable being fired upon by the Temeraire at Trafalgar, on the 21th of October 1805, after having fought for more than two hours against Nelsons Victory The Seventy-four was a two-decked sailing ship of the line nominally carrying 74 guns. ... This is one of six ratings (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ...

He distinguished himself under Admiral Thomas Graves at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781 and under Admiral George Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes and in consequence was given his first command, the sloop Fury. He was soon promoted to captain a larger frigate, but following the peace of Versailles in 1783, he was put ashore on half pay. Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves (ca. ... The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as Battle of the Virginia Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American Revolutionary War which occurred near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on September 5, 1781 between a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Thomas Graves and a French fleet led... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719–1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (February 1718 – May 24, 1792), was a British naval officer. ... The Battle of the Saintes, 12 April 1782: surrender of the Ville de Paris by Thomas Whitcombe, painted 1783, shows Hoods Barfleur, centre, attacking the French flagship Ville de Paris, right. ... USS Constellation, a United States Navy sloop-of-war. ... 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

During the peace, Smith chose to travel to France and first became involved with intelligence matters while observing the construction of the new naval port at Cherbourg. He also travelled in Spain and Morocco which were also potential enemies. Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ...

Service in the Swedish Navy

In 1790, he applied for permission to serve in the Swedish Navy in the war between Sweden and Russia. King Gustavus III appointed him to command the light squadron and to be his principal naval adviser. Smith led his forces in the clearing the bay of Viborg of the Russian fleet, known as the Battle of Svensksund. The Russians lost sixty four ships and over a thousand men killed. The Swedes lost four ships and had few casualties. For this he was knighted by the king with the Swedish Order of the Sword. Smith used this title, with King George III's permission, but was mocked by fellow British officers as "the Swedish knight". The Swedish Naval Ensign Coat of arms of the Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy (Swedish: Marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. ... Gustav III (13 January 1746 (O.S.) (24 January 1746 (N.S.))–March 29, 1792) was the King of Sweden from February 12, 1771 until his death. ... Combatants Sweden Russia Commanders Gustav III of Sweden Vice Admiral Carl Olof Cronstedt prince Karl av Nassau-Siegen Strength 6 larger ships 16 galleys 154 smaller vessels ≈1. ... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ...

There were a number of British officers on half pay, like Smith, who had enlisted and fought with the Russian fleet and six had been killed in this action. As a result Smith earned the enmity of many British naval officers for his Swedish service.

Service in the French Revolutionary Wars

In 1792, Smith's younger brother, John Spencer Smith, was appointed to the British embassy to the Ottoman court in Istanbul. Smith obtained permission to travel to Turkey. While there war broke out with Revolutionary France in January 1793. Smith recruited some British seamen and sailed to join the British fleet under Admiral Lord Hood which had occupied the French Navy's principal Mediterranean port of Toulon at the invitation of the French Royalist forces. Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40... The location of Istanbul Province Maiden Tower and Historical Peninsula of Istanbul Istanbul (Turkish: Ä°stanbul, Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις, Constantinople) is the largest city in Turkey, and arguably the most important. ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Admiral Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, 1724–1816 by James Northcote, painted 1784. ... Location within France Coat of Arms of Toulon Toulon (Tolon in Provençal) is a city in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. ...

By Smith's arrival in December 1793, the Revolutionary forces, including a colonel of artillery, Napoleon Bonaparte, had surrounded the port and were attacking it. The British and their allies had insufficient soldiers to mount an effective defence and so the port was evacuated. Smith, serving as a volunteer with no command, was given the task of burning as many French ships and stores as possible before the harbour could be captured. Despite his efforts, lack of support from the Spanish forces sent to help him left more than half of the French ships to be captured undamaged. Although Smith had destroyed more French ships than had the most successful fleet action to that date, he was blamed by Nelson and Collingwood, among others, for this failure to destroy all of the French fleet. Napoleon I of France, by Jacques-Louis David Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution, and the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from 11 November 1799 to 18 May 1804, then as Emperor of the... Lord Nelson Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (September 29, 1758 – October 21, 1805) was a British admiral who won fame as a leading naval commander. ... Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood (26 September 1750 – 7 March 1810) was an admiral of the Royal Navy, notable as a partner with Horatio Nelson in several of the great victories of the Napoleonic Wars. ...

On his return to London, Smith was given command of the fifth-rate Diamond and in 1795 joined the Western Frigate Squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren. This squadron consisted of some of the most skillful and daring captains including Sir Edward Pellew. Smith fitted the pattern and on one occasion took his ship almost into the port of Brest to observe the French fleet. This is one of six ratings (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... Sir John Borlase Warren (1753-1822), English admiral, was born at Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, on the 2nd of September 1753, being the son and heir of John Boriase Warren (d. ... Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth (April 9, 1757 – January 23, 1833) was a British naval officer. ... Location within France Brest, at the tip of Brittany Brest is a city in the Bretagne région, north-west France, sous-préfecture of the Finistère département. ...

Smith specialised in inshore operations and on 19 April 1796, he was captured while attempting to cut out a French ship in Le Havre. Smith had taken the ship's boats into the harbour but the wind died as they attempted to leave harbour and the French were able to recapture the ship with Smith aboard. Instead of exchanging him as was the custom, Smith was taken to the Temple prison in Paris to be charged with arson for his burning of the fleet at Toulon. As Smith had been on half pay at the time, the French considered that he was not an official combatant. April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... 1796 was a leap year starting on Friday. ... Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ...

He was held in Paris for two years, despite a number of efforts to exchange him and frequent contacts with both French Royalists and British agents. The French authorities threatened several times to try him for arson, but never followed up the threats. Eventually in 1798, he was helped to escape by the Royalists who pretended to be taking him to another prison. Instead they brought him to Le Havre where he boarded a fishing boat and was picked up by a British frigate on patrol in the English Channel, arriving in London on 8 May 1798. Satellite view of the English Channel The English Channel (French: La Manche, IPA: , the sleeve), also for some time known in England as the British Sea, is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Service in the Mediterranean

Following Nelson's overwhelming victory at Battle of the Nile, Smith was sent to the Mediterranean as captain of Tigre, a captured 80 gun French ship of the line which had been brought into the Royal Navy. It was not a purely naval appointment, although he was ordered to place himself under the command of Lord St Vincent, the commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean. St Vincent gave him orders as Commodore with permission to take British ships under his command as required in the Levant. He also carried a military and diplomatic mission to Istanbul where his brother was now a Minister Plenipotentiary to the Sublime Porte. The mission's task was to strengthen Turkish opposition to Napoleon and to assist the Turks in destroying the French army stranded in Egypt. This dual appointment caused Nelson, who was the senior officer under St Vincent in the Mediterranean, to resent Smith's apparent superseding of his authority in the Levant. Nelson's antipathy further adversely affected Smith's reputation in naval circles. Lord Nelson The Right Honourable Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, KB (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was an Englishman, and a British admiral who won fame as a leading naval commander. ... The Battle of the Nile, known in France as the Battle of Aboukir Bay, was an important naval battle of the French Revolutionary Wars between a British fleet commanded by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson and a French fleet under Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys DAigalliers. ... Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent (9 January 1735-14 March 1823) was an admiral in the British Royal Navy. ... The Commander-in-Chief in the Royal Navy was the Admiral assigned to have overall command of all Royal Navy ships in a geographic location. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a flag officer. ... The Levant Levant is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. ... Synonym of the government of the Ottoman Empire often confusing the Sublime Porte and the High Porte. ...

Napoleon with 13,000 troops, having defeated the Ottoman forces in Egypt, marched north along the Mediterranean coast through what was then the Ottoman province of Syria (which included modern day Israel and Palestine as well as Syria and Lebanon). He captured Gaza and Jaffa with much brutality towards the civilian population and the massacre of captured Turkish soldiers. Napoleon's army then marched to Acre. Map of the British Mandate of Palestine. ... Image:Gazaseal. ... Jaffa (Hebrew יָפוֹ, Standard Hebrew Yafo, Tiberian Hebrew Yāp̄ô; Arabic يَافَا Yāfā; also Japho, Joppa), is an ancient city located in Israel. ... The Old City of Akko in the 19th or early 20th century, looking south-west from atop the Land Wall Promenade, the open space now a parking lot. ...

Smith sailed to Acre and helped the Turkish commander Jezzar Pasha reinforce the defences and old walls and supplied him with additional cannon manned by sailors and Marines from his ships. He also used his command to the sea to capture the French siege artillery being sent by ship from Egypt and to deny the French army the use of the coastal road from Jaffa by bombarding the troops from the sea. The Corps of Her Majestys Royal Marines, usually just known as the Royal Marines (RM) or sometimes colloquially as the Green Berets[1], is the United Kingdoms amphibious force and a core component of the countrys Rapid Deployment Force. ...

Once the siege began in late March 1799, Smith anchored HMS Tigre and Theseus so their broadsides could assist the defence. Repeated French assaults were driven back, several attempts to mine the walls were prevented. By early May, replacement French siege artillery had arrived overland and a breach was forced in the defences. However, the assault was again repelled and Turkish reinforcements from Rhodes were able to land. On May 9 after another fierce bombardment, the final French assault was made. This, too, was repelled and Napoleon began making plans for the withdrawal of his army to Egypt. This was Napoleon's first major land defeat of his career and it had been brought about by a naval officer's leadership. Shortly after this, Napoleon abandoned his army in Egypt and sailed back to France evading the British ships patrolling the Mediterranean. HMS Theseus was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. ... USS Iowa Broadside (1984) A broadside is the side of a ship; the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their simultaneous (or near simultaneous) fire in naval warfare. ... Main entrance to the medieval city of Rhodes Rhodes, Greek Ρόδος (pron. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ...

Smith attempted to negotiate the surrender and repatriation of the remaining French forces under General Kléber and signed the Convention of El-Arish. However, because of the influence of Nelson's view that the French forces in Egypt should be annihilated rather than allowed to return to France, the treaty was abrogated by Lord Keith who had who had succeeded St Vincent as commander-in-chief. Jean Baptiste Kléber Jean Baptiste Kléber (9 March 1753 - 14 June 1800) was a French general. ... George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith (1746-1823), British admiral, fifth son of the 10th Lord Elphinstone, was born in Elphinstone Tower, near Stirling, on the 7th of January 1746. ...

The British decided instead to land an army under Sir Ralph Abercromby at Abukir Bay. Smith and Tigre were involved in the training and transport of the landing forces and as liaison with the Turks but his unpopularity resulted in him losing his diplomatic credentials and his naval position as Commodore in the eastern Mediterranean. The invasion was successful and the French defeated although Abercromby was wounded and died soon after the battle. The French troops were eventually repatriated on similar terms as those previously obtained by Smith in the Convention of El-Arish. Sir Ralph Abercromby (sometimes spelled Abercrombie) (October 7, 1734–March 28, 1801) was a British lieutenant-general noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Abū Qīr (Arabic أبو قير) (also Abukir or Aboukir) was a village on the Egypt, twenty-three kilometers (fourteen and one-half miles) northeast of Alexandria by rail, containing a castle used as a state prison by Muhammad Ali of Egypt. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a flag officer. ...

Service in British waters

On his return to England in 1801 Smith received some honours and a pension of £1,000 for his services but he was overshadowed again by Nelson who was being acclaimed as the victor of the Battle of Copenhagen. During the brief Peace of Amiens, Smith was elected Member of Parliament for Rochester, Kent in the election held in 1802. There is strong evidence that he had an affair with Princess Caroline of Brunswick, the estranged wife of the Prince of Wales. Although she became pregnant, she was notorious for having a number of other lovers at the same time, such as George Canning and Thomas Lawrence, so it is unlikely the child was Smith's. The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... The Battle of Copenhagen The Battle of Copenhagen (Danish: Slaget på Reden) was a naval battle fought on 2 April 1801 by a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, against a Danish fleet anchored just off Copenhagen. ... The Treaty of Amiens was signed on March 25, 1802 (Germinal 4, year X in the French Revolutionary Calendar) by Joseph Bonaparte and the Marquis Cornwallis as a Definitive Treaty of Peace between France and Britain. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... Rochester is a small town in Kent, at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway about 30 miles (50 km) from London. ... --69. ... Caroline of Brunswick Duchess Caroline of Brunswick (17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821) as Queen Caroline was, technically, Queen Consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 to her death. ... George IV (George Augustus Frederick) (12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 29 January 1820. ... The Right Honourable George Canning (11 April 1770-8 August 1827) was a British politician who served as Foreign Secretary and, briefly, Prime Minister. ... Sir Thomas Lawrence (April 13, 1769 - January 7, 1830), was an English painter was born at Bristol. ...

With the resumption of war with France in 1803, Smith was employed in the southern North Sea off the coast between Ostend and Flushing part of the forces gathered to prevent Napoleon's threatened invasion. 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... Ostend (Dutch: Oostende, French: Ostende) is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. ... Flushing has multiple meanings: For any of several populated places, a village in the United Kingdom, see Flushing, Cornwall a city in the Netherlands, see Flushing, Netherlands a section of the borough of Queens in New York City, see Flushing, New York a city in Genesee County, Michigan, see Flushing...

Smith, who was interested in new and unusual methods of warfare, in 1804 and 1805 worked with the American inventor, Robert Fulton on his plans to develop torpedoes and mines to destroy the French invasion fleet gathering on the French and Belgian coasts. However, an attempt to use the new weapons combined with Congreve rockets in an attack on Boulogne was foiled by bad weather and the French gunboats that came out to threaten the attackers. Despite this setback, suggestions were made that the rockets, mines and torpedoes be used against the Combined French and Spanish Fleet in Cádiz. This was not necessary as the combined fleet sailed to defeat at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Robert Fulton Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 – February 24, 1815) was a US engineer and inventor, who was widely credited with developing the first steam-powered ship. ... There have been two notable figures named William Congreve For the playwright, see William Congreve (playwright) For the inventor, see William Congreve (inventor) For the Victoria Cross winner, see William La Touche Congreve This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the... Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city and commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... City nickname: Tacita de plata (little silver cup) Official website: http://www. ... Combatants United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland First French Empire, Spain Commanders The Viscount Nelson † Pierre Charles Silvestre de Villeneuve Strength 27 ships of the line, 4 frigates, 2 others France: 18 ships of the line, 8 others Spain: 15 ships of the line Casualties 449 killed; 1,214...

Further service in the Mediterranean

In November 1805, Smith was promoted to Rear Admiral, he was again sent to the Mediterranean under the command of Collingwood who had become the commander-in-chief following Nelson's death. Collingood sent him to assist King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies regain his capital of Naples from Napoleon's brother King Joseph who had been given the kingdom of Naples. The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (January 12, 1751 - January 4, 1825). ... Joseph Bonaparte Joseph Bonaparte (January 7, 1768 – July 28, 1844) was the elder brother of the French Emperor Napoleon I, who made him King of Naples (1806–1808) and King of Spain (1808–1813). ... Naples panorama Naples (Italian Nàpoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region and the Province of Naples. ...

Smith planned a campaign using Calabrian irregular troops with a force of 5,000 British officers and men to march north on Naples. On July 4, 1806, they defeated a larger French force at the Battle of Maida. Once again, Smith's inability to avoid offending his superiors caused him to be replaced as commander of the land forces despite his success. He was replaced by Sir John Moore, one of Britain's more able soldiers. Moore abandoned Smith's plan and resorted to making the island of Sicily a strong British base in the Mediterranean. July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Maida. ... Sir John Moore (November 13, 1761 – January 16, 1809) was a British soldier and General. ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ...

Smith was sent to join Admiral Sir John Duckworth's expedition to Constantinople in February 1807. This was intended to forestall the French from making an alliance with the Turks to alow free passage of their army to Egypt. Despite Smith's great experience in Turkish waters, his knowledge of the Turkish court and his personal popularity with the Turks, he was kept in a subordinate role. Even when Duckworth eventually did asked for his advice, it was not heeded. Duckworth, instead of allowing Smith to negotiate with the Turks, which the French ambassador later said would have been the end of the French overtures, retreated back through the Dardanelles under heavy Turkish fire. Although this was a defeat, the withdrawal under fire was played up as a heroic feat. In the summer of 1807, Duckworth and Smith were recalled to England. Sir John Duckworth Vice-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth (9 February 1747 or 1748 – 31 August 1817) was a British naval officer of the French revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. ... Look up February in Wiktionary, the free dictionary February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Dardanelles (Turkish: Çanakkale Boğazı), formerly Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. ...

Portugal and Brazil

In October 1807, Spain and France signed a treaty to divide Portugal between them. In November 1807, Smith was appointed to command an expedition to Lisbon, either to assist the Portuguese in resisting the attack or to destroy the Portuguese fleet blockade the harbour at Lisbon should that be unsuccessful. Smith arranged for the Portuguese fleet to sail for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at that time a Portuguese colony. He was involved in planning an attack on the Spanish colonies in South America, in combination with the Portuguese, but contrary to his orders, but he was recalled to Britain in 1809 before any of the plans could be carried out. He received much popular acclaim for his actions and treated as a hero but the government continued to be suspicious of him and he was not given any official honours. Smith was promoted to Vice Admiral on 31 July 1810. In the Royal Navy of the time promotion was automatic and based on seniority, not a specific reward for good service. Later that year in October 1810, he married Caroline Rumbold, the widow of a diplomat and intelligence agent, Sir George Rumbold, who Smith had worked with. District Lisbon Mayor   - Party Carmona Rodrigues PSD Area 84. ... Ipanema beach, in the South Zone, immortalised by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Morais song The Girl from Ipanema Cristo Redentor, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue at the top of the Corcovado mountain A NASA satellite image of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro (meaning River of January in... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Mediterranean again

In July 1812, Smith again sailed for the Mediterranean aboard his new flagship, the 74-gun Tremendous. He was appointed as second in command to Vice Admiral Sir Edward Pellew. His task was to blockade Toulon and he transferred his flag to the larger Hibernia, a 110-gun first-rate. Blockade duty was tedious as the French showed no inclination to come out of port and confront the British. Early in 1814, the Allies entered Paris and Napoleon abdicated. He was exiled to the island of Elba. With the coming of peace and the defeat of Napoleon, Smith returned to England. The Redoutable being fired upon by the Temeraire at Trafalgar, on the 21th of October 1805, after having fought for more than two hours against Nelsons Victory The Seventy-four was a two-decked sailing ship of the line nominally carrying 74 guns. ... Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth (April 9, 1757 – January 23, 1833) was a British naval officer. ... HMS Hibernia was a Royal Navy 110-gun first rate ship of the line. ... This is one of six ratings (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Elba (top center) from space, February 1994 Elba and the Tuscan Archipelago. ...

Peace and Waterloo

Smith then took up the anti-slavery cause. The Barbary pirates had operated for centuries out of a number of North African ports. They had enslaved captured sailors and even made raids to kidnap people from European coasts, including England and Ireland. Smith attended the Congress of Vienna to campaign for funds and military action to end the practice of slave taking. In March 1815 Napoleon escaped from Elba and gathering his veteran troops marched on Paris where he was reinstated as Emperor of France. Smith travelled back to England but had only reached Brussels by June. Hearing the gunfire of a great battle, he rode out of Brussels and went to meet the Duke of Wellington. Smith found him late in the day when he had just won the Battle of Waterloo. Smith started making arrangements for the collecting and treatment of the many wounded soldiers on both sides. He was then asked to take the surrender of the French garrisons at Arras and Amiens and to ensure that the Allied armies could enter Paris without a fight and that it would be safe for King Louis XVIII to return to his capital. For these and other services, he was finally awarded a British knighthood, the KCB, so he was not just "the Swedish Knight" any more. Battle between the british frigate HMS Mary Rose and seven Algerine pirates, 1669 Though at least a proportion of them are better described as privateers, the Barbary pirates operated out of Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, Salè and ports in Morocco, preying on shipping in the western Mediterranean Sea from the time... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Azores, Canary Islands, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors from the major powers in Europe that was chaired by the Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and held in Vienna, Austria, from September 1, 1814, to June 9, 1815. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... Bold textItalic textBold text // Headline text Emblem of the Brussels-Capital Region Flag of The City of Brussels Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel, German: Brüssel) is the capital of Belgium, the French community of Belgium, the Flemish community and of the European Union. ... Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Combatants France Anglo-Allied/Prussian/ Dutch Commanders Napoléon Bonaparte Duke of Wellington Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Anglo-Allied 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by about 18:00) Casualties 25,000 22,000 {{{notes}}} Map of the Waterloo campaign The Battle of Waterloo, fought... Arras is a town and commune in northern France, préfecture (capital) of the Pas-de-Calais département. ... The cathedral in Amiens Location within France Amiens is a city and commune in the north of France, 120 km north of Paris. ... Louis XVIII (November 17, 1755 - September 16, 1824) was King of France and Navarre from 1814 (although he declared that he considered his reign to have begun in 1795) until his death in 1824, with a brief break in 1815 due to Napoleons return in the Hundred Days. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ...

Smith had managed to run up significant debts through his diplomatic expenses, which the British government proved to be very slow in reimbursing. He also lived high lifestyle and his efforts to mobilise opinion against the slave trade had cost a good deal of money. In Britain, at that time debtors were often imprisoned until their debts were paid. So he took his family to France and lived in Paris. Eventually the government did reimburse his expenditures and increased his pension, so he was able to live in some style. Despite frequent attempts to obtain a sea-going position, he was never to hold a command again. He died on 26 May 1840 following a stroke. He is buried with his wife in the cemetery of Père Lachaise. May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Looking down the hill at the Père-Lachaise cemetery The Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris, and one of the most famous cemeteries in the world. ...

References

• A Thirst for Glory The Life of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith, by Tom Pocock. Pimlico London, 1998, ISBN 0-7126-7341-5
• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.