Sir John Smythe, 8th Baronet

{{short description|English cricketer and British Army officer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name =

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = John Walter Smythe

| birth_date = 7 November 1827

| birth_place = Acton Burnell, Shropshire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1919|3|5|1827|11|7|df=yes}}

| death_place = Acton Burnell, Shropshire, England

| nickname =

| family =

| batting = Unknown

| bowling = Unknown

| role =

| club1 = Marylebone Cricket Club

| year1 = 1878–1885

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 5

| runs1 = 122

| bat avg1 = 13.55

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 35

| deliveries1 = 76

| wickets1 = 2

| bowl avg1 = 12.00

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 2/24

| catches/stumpings1 = 3/–

| date = 21 April

| year = 2021

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/20911.html Cricinfo

}}

Sir John Walter Smythe, 8th Baronet (7 November 1827 – 5 March 1919) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

The son of Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, he was born in November 1827 at the Smythe family home, Acton Burnell Castle in Shropshire. He was educated at Downside School.{{cite book |title=The Downside Review|publisher=Downside Abbey|location=Stratton-on-the-Fosse|year=1978|volume=38, 40|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vhJOAQAAIAAJ|language=en}} Smythe served as an officer in the Louth Rifles. He was promoted to captain in November 1845.{{London Gazette|city=Edinburgh|issue=6514|date=31 July 1855|page=946}} A latecomer to first-class cricket, Smythe made his first-class debut for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Oxford University at the age of 50 in June 1878. He played first-class matches for the MCC until 1885, making five appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/32/32912/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by John Smythe|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=2021-04-21|url-access=subscription}} He scored 122 runs in his five matches, with a highest score of 35,{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/32/32912/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by John Smythe|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=2021-04-21|url-access=subscription}} while as a bowler he took 2 wickets.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/32/32912/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by John Smythe|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=2021-04-21|url-access=subscription}} He succeeded to the Smythe baronetcy as the 8th Baronet upon the death of his brother, Sir Charles Smythe in November 1897. He was nominated for High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1904, but was not chosen.{{London Gazette|issue=27735|date=15 November 1904|page=7365}} Smythe died at Acton Burnell in March 1919. He was succeeded as the 9th Baronet by Sir Edward Smythe.