Thomas Smith (English judge)

Sir Thomas Smith (1513 – 12 August 1577) was an English scholar, diplomat, and judge. He served as Principal Secretary to Edward VI and Elizabeth I.

Smith was born in Saffron Walden, Essex, and educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he later became Regius Professor of Civil Law. His academic interests were broad, encompassing Greek, mathematics, and alchemy.

During the reign of Edward VI, Smith rose to prominence, becoming a Member of Parliament and serving as Principal Secretary. He was knighted in 1548. However, his fortunes changed with the accession of Mary I, and he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for his Protestant sympathies.

Upon Elizabeth I's ascension to the throne, Smith was released and restored to favor. He served as a diplomat, undertaking missions to France. In 1571, he was appointed a judge and served in that capacity until his death in 1577.

Smith is perhaps best known for his treatise De Republica Anglorum (The Manner of Government or Commonwealth of England), written around 1565, although it was not published until 1583, after his death. The work provides a detailed account of the English constitution and social structure in the Tudor period. It is considered a significant source for understanding the workings of English government at the time. He also actively promoted a phonetic spelling system for English.