Samuel Smith (1766-1841), son of Dr. Samuel Smith of Westminster, was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1786, M.A. 1789, B.D. 1797, D.D. 1808). The date and place of his ordination are untraced. From 1795 he held the perpetual curacy of Daventry (Northamptonshire); in addition from 1808 to 1829 and again from 1831 until his death he was rector of Dry Drayton (Cambridgeshire). Prebends at Southwell and York were bestowed upon him in 1800 and 1801 respectively. In 1802 he was appointed chaplain to the House of Commons. From 1807 to 1831 he was active at Christ Church, Oxford, as canon (1807-1824), sub-dean (1809), treasurer (1813), and dean (1824-1831). From 1831 he was a canon and sub-dean of Durham.
Smith married a Miss Taunton, by whom he had at least four children. Their eldest son, Samuel, pre-deceased his father in 1831, after education at Westminster and Christ Church, and a brief tenure of the rectory of Dry Drayton (1829-1831). William, probably the second son, followed his brother to Westminster and Christ Church. He also took holy orders, and became rector of Dry Drayton after his father's death. Two other sons are recorded, Charles, another cleric (d. 1855), and Thomas, who pursued a military career.
From the guide to the Samuel Smith papers, 1786-1887, (Repository Unknown)
