Nothing is known of John Smyth's early life until he is recorded as architect of
St Thomas's church,
Marlborough Street, Dublin in 1758, which is attributed to him by the
Dublin Gazette of 23–6 September 1758, and gives his address as Clarendon Street. The facade of St Thomas's was modelled on the
Redentore, Venice, and was destroyed in 1922. Noting it's destruction,
The Irish Builder commented "next, perhaps, to the Four Courts in architectural value amongst the buildings lately destroyed". The
Provost's House, Trinity College Dublin is attributed to him, but this has been questioned, but there is a reference to a payment to "Smith [sic] architect for a plan for the Provost's House" in the bursar's quarterly accounts for the college ending June 1759. The ballast board continued to employ Smyth until they record his death in 1775. He was also the official architect to the commissioners of revenue, being replaced by
Thomas Ivory after his death. ==References==