Francis Pettit Smith (1808-1874), British inventor. Smith patented his screw propellor in 1836. This was a considerable improvement over the paddle wheels and inefficient propellors that had previously been used. His grandson Archimedes, was named after this type of propellor design. Smith is buried besides Archimedes (who died aged seven) in the churchyard of St Leonard's Church, Hythe, Kent, England. Smith was knighted in 1871.