Thomas Smythe (customer)

Thomas Smythe
Thomas 'Customer' Smythe
Born1522
Died7 July 1591(1591-07-07) (aged 68–69)
Resting placeSt Mary's Church, Ashford
51°08′55″N 0°52′22″E / 51.14865°N 0.87276°E / 51.14865; 0.87276
Occupations
  • Politician
  • merchant
  • financier
Spouse
Alice Judde
(m. 1554)
Children
Parents
  • John Smythe (father)
  • Joan Brouncker (mother)

Thomas Smythe or Smith (1522 – 7 June 1591), of London, Ashford and Westenhanger, Kent was the collector of customs duties (also known as a professional "customer") in London during the Tudor period, and a member of parliament for five English constituencies successively in the 1550s and 1560s. His son and namesake, Sir Thomas Smythe, was the first governor of the East India Company, treasurer of the Virginia Company, and an active supporter of the Virginia colony.