Ambrose Smith or Smythe (died 1584) was a London mercer in Cheapside and silkman who supplied Elizabeth I
Smith was a son of John Smith (died 1545) of Withcote, near Oakham, in Leicestershire, and Dorothy Cave, a sister of Ambrose Cave. John Leland visited their "right goodly house" at Withcote in 1539, "one of the fairest houses in Leicestershire".[1]
His older brother Roger Smith (died 1603) inherited the estate, but Ambrose bought it from him in 1575.[2] Roger Smith married Frances Griffin, a daughter of Thomas Griffin of Dingley.[3]
Ambrose Smith supplied velvet, satin, taffeta, and sarsenet to Queen Elizabeth.[4]
He sold fabrics to Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and Amy Robsart, some for the use of their Spanish tailor.[5] Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond owed him money in 1580. Ambrose Smith died in 1584.[6]