Thomas Johnson SMYTH

Erected by personal friends, to the memory of Thomas Johnson SMYTH. Royal Navy. Lieutenant of Her Majesty’s Frigate Juno, who lost his life in a heroic attempt to save the lives of a boats crew upset in the surf off the coast of California 16th May 1846 aged 29 years.
He was an honour to the service, esteemed by his captain and beloved by his shipmates and friends.

Newspaper cutting.
DEATHS. On the 16t o of May 1846 Lieutenant Smyth died and was buried at sea with the usual honours.
On the 16th of May a barge belonging to the ship swamped at Mazatlan, in attempting to push through the surf with a load of water. The accident was seen from the ship and all boats pushed off to the assistance of the men who were struggling in the surf. Lieutenant Smyth, in Capt Blake’s galley, was the first to enter the surf, but the galley being long and ill-adapted to so perilous a service, upset. Lieut Smyth was picked up by another boat, apparently uninjured, but he died a few days afterwards.


Source, Naval Biographical Dictionary
This officer entered the Navy 21 Nov. 1829; passed his examination 30 Nov. 1836; and after serving in the Mediterranean and at Plymouth as Mate in the Tyne 26, Capt. John Townshend, and Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir David Milne, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 27 July, 1842. His succeeding appointments were – 2 Aug. 1842, as Additional, to the Madagascar 44, Capt. John Foote, on the coast of Africa – 21 Jan. 1843, to the Ferret 6, Capt. Josiah Oake, on the same station – and, 8 Nov. 1845, to the Juno 26, Capt. Patrick John Blake, fitting for the Pacific, where he died.