SMITH (Edmund), a distinguished English poet, the only son of Mr Neale an eminent merchant, by a daughter of baron Lechmere, was born in 1668. By his father's death he was left young to the care of Mr Smith, who had married his father's sister, and who treated him with so much tenderness, that at the death of his generous guardian he assumed his name. His writings are not many, and those are scattered about in miscellanies and collections: his celebrated tragedy of Phaedra and Hippolytus was acted in 1707; and being introduced at a time when the Italian opera so much engrossed the polite world, gave Mr Addison, who wrote the prologue, an opportunity to rally the vitiated taste of the public. However, notwithstanding the esteem it has always been held in, it is perhaps rather to be considered as a fine poem than as a good play. This tragedy, with a Poem to the memory of Mr John Philips, three or four Odes, with a Latin oration spoken at Oxford in laudem Thomae Bodleii, were published as his works by his friend Mr Oldifworth. Mr Smith died in 1710, sunk into indolence and intemperance by poverty and disappointments; the hard fate of many a man of genius.