Remember the name Francis Pettit Smith. This blue plaque commemorates a life dedicated to innovation. Sir Francis Pettit Smith, pioneer of the screw propeller, lived here from 1864 to 1870.
Francis Pettit Smith was born in Hythe, Kent in 1808. He died in Kensington, London in 1874. Smith’s early life was spent on a farm. Yet his mind was captivated by boats and their propulsion.
Smith’s fascination led him to create model boats. In 1834, he perfected a model propelled by a wooden screw. He firmly believed this method surpassed the paddle wheel. In 1836, Smith patented his screw propeller design.
Securing financial support, he established the Propeller Steamship Company. This company built the SS Archimedes in 1839. The SS Archimedes was the world’s first successful screw-propelled steamship.
Smith’s work caught the eye of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel changed his design for the SS Great Britain from paddle to screw. Smith lent Brunel the Archimedes for several months. He also convinced the British Admiralty to adopt screw propulsion. Smith even traveled on the SS Great Britain to New York in 1852.
From 1864 to 1870, Smith resided at 17 Sydenham Hill SE26. This elegant Victorian house near Crystal Palace Park became his home. In 1860, the government appointed him curator of the Patent Museum at South Kensington. He received a knighthood in 1871.
His house on Sydenham Hill was named Centra House. It was designed by Charles Barry Jr. Smith planted shrubbery and enjoyed woodlands. A later resident added a Pulhamite fountain and grotto. The house was renamed Dilkoosh and later Fountain House.
Sir Francis Pettit Smith died in 1874. He is buried in St Leonards Cemetery, Hythe, Kent. This blue plaque stands as a lasting tribute to Smith’s ingenuity. It reminds us of his contribution to maritime technology.