ch. xn] The Merchant Adventurers 105 
Thomas Smith. Descended from a long line of yeomen 
in Wiltshire, his father was Thomas Smith of Ostenhanger 
in Kent, better known as u Customer " Smith, having 
been for many years one of the farmers of the Queen's 
Customs. He succeeded his father as Customer to Queen 
Elizabeth and became a wealthy and successful London 
merchant, inheriting from his father the manor of 
Bidborough, and an estate in the parish of Sutton-at-Hone 
in Kent, called Brooke Place, where he built a large 
house. It was his great merit to have furthered maritime 
enterprise and discovery throughout a long life, not 
mainly for the sake of gain, but for the honour of his 
country. 
Sir Thomas Smith was an active member of the 
Muscovy Company, and was among those adventurers 
who despatched the first ships to Spitsbergen. He also 
took a leading part in the foundation of the East 
India Company, and was elected its first Governor in 
1600. He was knighted by James I at the Tower on 
May 13th, 1603, and in the following year was sent as 
Ambassador to Muscovy by way of Archangel. At 
Moscow he obtained special privileges for English mer- 
chants from Boris Godenoff . He returned in the following 
year, and was afterwards employed, on several occasions, 
in affairs of state connected with commerce. 
Sir Thomas Smith was re-elected Governor of the 
East India Company in 1607, and again in 1609, when 
for his great services, and for having procured the first 
and second charters, the Company offered the sum of 
£500 for his acceptance, but he declined to take more 
than half the sum. The East India Company flourished 
under his wise and energetic administration, and in 1610 
the largest merchant ship that had ever been built was 
launched in the presence of the King, and named Trade's 
Increase. At the same time the King placed a gold 
chain round the neck of the Governor of the Company, 
with his Majesty's portrait attached. 
While thus developing the trade with India, Smith 
was ever mindful of Arctic discovery. As a manager of 
the Muscovy Company he sent Jonas Poole to Spitsbergen, 
and induced the East India Company to send Captain 
Weymouth in search of a passage to Cathay. In 1612 
