John Smith of St. Augustine's London was an English craftsman and writer, known as "philomath". He was also a Unitarian writer who was coerced into recanting at the height of the 1690s "Socinian controversy

Socinian controversy

The Socinian controversy in the Church of England was a theological argument on christology carried out by English theologians for around a decade from 1687...

".

Religious views

A designed End to the Socinian Controversy: or a rational and plain Discourse that no other person but the Father of Christ is God Most High was published under Smith's own name in 1695 (unusually, since Unitarian contributions in the controversy were typically anonymous). It was attacked in 1696 by Francis Gregory, rector of Hambledon

Hambledon

Hambledon may refer to:* Hambledon, Hampshire, England**Hambledon Club, was a notable progenitor of the game of cricket* Hambledon, Surrey, England* Hambledon Hill, Dorset, England- See also :* Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, England** Hambleden Lock...

.

Smith was forced to publish a recantation:

"... to the established laws and statutes of the realm — I, John Smith, do hereby declare, that I am very sorry for the same, and wish, with all my heart, I had not either written, or caused to be printed, the said book, asking forgiveness of all such as have been hurt thereby, or justly scandalized thereat, and retracting all pernicious errors and heretical positions contained in the said book. And I do hereby promise, with sincerity and truth, to abstain from all occasions of falling into the like miscarriage as much as in me lies, and to behave myself, for the time to come, as befits an humble, peaceable, modest, and quiet Christian. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, &c, " John Smith.""

His case is notable in showing how the Act of Toleration 1689

Act of Toleration 1689

The Act of Toleration was an act of the English Parliament , the long title of which is "An Act for Exempting their Majestyes Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certaine Lawes".The Act allowed freedom of worship to Nonconformists who had pledged to the...

 did not extend to Unitarians.

Works

Smith was a clock-maker. He was also the author of:

• ‘Horological Dialogues, in three parts, shewing the nature, use, and right management of Clocks and Watches … by J. S., clockmaker,’ London, 1675. To the same John Smith is also attributed a technical treatise entitled ‘The Art of Painting, wherein is included The whole Art of Vulgar Painting, according to the best and most approved Rules for preparing and laying on of Oyl Colours … with directions for painting Sun Dials and all manner of Timber work,’ London, 1676; the second impression, with alterations and additions, 1687; 4th ed. ‘The Art of Painting in Oyl … to which is now added the Art and Mystery of Colouring Maps and other Prints with Water Colours,’ London, 1705; other editions 1706, 1723; 9th ed. 1788..
• ‘A Complete Discourse of the Nature, Use, and right managing of that Wonderful instrument the Baroscope or quick silver weather glass,’ London, 1688.
• ‘Horological Disquisitions concerning the Nature of Time,’ &c., London, 1694; 2nd ed. 1708.
• ‘The Curiosities of Common Water, or the advantages thereof in preventing and curing many distempers. Gather'd from the Writings of several Eminent Physicians, and also from more than 40 years' experience,’ London, 1722; 3rd. ed. 1723; 10th ed. curante Ralph Thoresby
  Ralph Thoresby
  Ralph Thoresby , born in Leeds and is widely credited with being the first historian of that city. He was besides a merchant, non-conformist, fellow of the Royal Society, diarist, author, common-councilman in the Corporation of Leeds, and museum keeper.-Upbringing:Ralph Thoresby was the son of John...
  
  . This was a compilation from medical writers, such as Sir John Floyer, Joseph Browne
  Joseph Browne (physician)
  Joseph Browne , was an English physician, generally described as a charlatan and hack writer.-Life:He has been identified with a Joseph Browne of Jesus College, Cambridge, who proceeded M.B. 1695; he assumed the title M.D....
  
  , Daniel Duncan
  Daniel Duncan (physician)
  Daniel Duncan was a Scottish-French physician, Huguenot by religion, known as a writer of iatrochemical works.-Life:He was born at Montauban in Languedoc, where his father, Peter Duncan, was professor of physics...
  
  , and others, advocating hydropathy and in praise of temperance and common-sense treatment. It had a large circulation in England, was translated into German, and into French as ‘Traité des Vertus de l'Eau commune,’ Paris, 1725; 2nd ed. 1626 [1726]; 3rd ed. 1730.

‘Stereometrie,’ London, 1673, ia attributed to Smith by Thomas Seccombe

Thomas Seccombe

Thomas Seccombe was a miscellaneous English writer and, from 1891 to 1901, assistant editor of the Dictionary of National Biography, writing over 700 entries. Educated at Felsted and Balliol College, Oxford, taking a first in Modern History in 1889.-Works:*Twelve Bad Men *The Age of Johnson *The...

(DNB), but this is, however, questioned by Anita McConnell (ODNB).