Joshua Spencer-Smith

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Joshua Spencer-Smith

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Gilbert Joshua Spencer-Smith

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1843|12|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Sarisbury, Hampshire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1928|2|4|1843|12|17|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bursledon, Hampshire, England

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm roundarm slow

| family = Orlando Spencer-Smith (twin brother)
Cunliffe Gosling (nephew)
Henry Wilder (uncle)

| club1 = Hampshire

| year1 = 1864

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 1

| runs1 = 20

| bat avg1 = 10.00

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 11

| hidedeliveries = true

| catches/stumpings1 = –/–

| date = 13 December

| year = 2009

| source = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/20300.html Cricinfo

}}

Gilbert Joshua Spencer-Smith {{postnominal|JP}} (17 December 1843 – 2 February 1928) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

Spencer-Smith was born at Brooklands, the Spencer-Smith family home in December 1843; he was a twin, born alongside Orlando Spencer-Smith.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228172.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1928|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=2021-12-28}} His parents were Spencer Smith and Frances Anne Seymour.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p47766.htm#i477653|title=Gilbert Joshua Smith|publisher=www.thepeerage.com|accessdate=2021-12-28}} He was educated at Eton College,{{cite book|title=The Eton Register|year=1903|volume=2|page=63|publisher=Spottiswoode|url=https://archive.org/details/b2900603x_0002}} where he played for the college cricket team which was captained by Mike Mitchell. After completing his education, Spencer-Smith chose to pursue a career in the British Army and purchased the commission of ensign in the 25th Foot in March 1863.{{London Gazette|issue=22720|date=24 March 1863|page=1689}} He played first-class cricket for Hampshire in their first season as a first-class county in 1864, making one appearance against Sussex at Hove.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6860/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Joshua Spencer-Smith|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2021-12-29|url-access=subscription}} Opening the batting in both Hampshire innings, he was dismissed twice by James Lillywhite for scores of 11 and 9.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/1/1351.html|title=Sussex v Hampshire, 1864|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2021-12-29|url-access=subscription}} He was described by Wisden as "a good slow round-armed bowler, and quick at short slip."

In October 1865, he purchased the rank of lieutenant while serving in the 85th Foot,{{London Gazette|issue=23023|date=10 October 1865|page=4788}} before purchasing the rank of captain in October 1871.{{London Gazette|issue=23784|date=13 October 1871|page=4232}} He retired from active service in January 1876, while retaining the rank of captain,{{London Gazette|issue=24285|date=18 January 1876|page=197}} but returned to service with the Royal Hampshire Regiment in April 1877.{{London Gazette|issue=24447|date=24 April 1877|page=2737}} He later retired his commission with the Royal Hampshire Regiment in April 1886 and was granted the honorary rank of major.{{London Gazette|issue=25577|date=13 April 1886|page=1784}} A justice of the peace for Hampshire, Spencer-Smith died at Bursledon in February 1928. His twin brother was also a first-class cricket, as were his nephew Cunliffe Gosling and uncle Henry Wilder.