Mansfield George Smith-Cumming

Captain SIR Mansfield George Smith-Cumming, K.C.M.G., C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (1 April 1859 – 14 June 1923) was an officer of the Royal Navy and the first head of the Secret Intelligence Service, more commonly known as MI6.

Life & Career

Mansfield George Smith was born at Lee in Kent on 1 April 1859, the son of John Thomas Smith, Royal Engineers, and Marie Sarah Smith. He joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet on 15 January 1872, being appointed to the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth. He spent the customary four terms, or two years, there, gaining a total of six months' sea time before the rating of Midshipman. On 20 December 1873 he was appointed to the corvette Modeste, joining her in January 1874.

Smith-Cumming was given the Acting Rank of Captain on 15 January 1915. On 25 June 1919 he was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List, dated 11 November 1918. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) on 30 June, and was invested with the honour at Buckingham Palace by the King on 26 July. He reverted to the Retired List on 15 November. He died suddenly on 14 June 1923.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/39/377.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/20/123.