this position for a decade. Tenures as Governor of Newfoundland In 1740 Smith transferred to the 50-gun Romney, on board which he sailed back to Great Britain. Smith then departed aboard the Romney with the fishing fleet to Newfoundland, where he was to become Commodore-Governor. He only held this position for one year, resigning in April 1742, but was appointed again in 1743 after a brief return to the Mediterranean. Late naval career and the creation of the divisional system Smith left the post of governor for good and was placed in command of the 100-gun Royal Sovereign in September 1745. On 11 February 1745 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North Sea a post he held till December 1746, during this period Smith spent a lot of time organising anti-invasion defences off the coast of Suffolk and Essex aboard the 40-gun Hastings. In February 1746 he replaced John Byng as Commander-in-Chief, Leith, a position he stayed in until January 1747. Smith was promoted to Vice-Admiral of the White in 1748, and in August 1755 he was made Commander-in-Chief, the Downs. Soon after taking command of the Downs Squadron in 1755, Smith began to draft a scheme to combat the problems regarding relations between the officers and the men in the Royal Navy. Under this system the lieutenants on board a ship would be placed in charge of a division of the ship's company, and would be responsible for the health, welfare and efficiency of the men under their jurisdiction. This system became known as the divisional system. While originally confined to Smith's Downs Squadron, it soon spread to other ships in the Service and was widely, though not universally admired, by the end of the Seven Years' War. By 1765 the system appears to have been the structure of choice for ships in the Royal Navy. A very efficient arrangement, Smith's divisional system resulted in increased efficiency and closer control, as well as improved communications between the officers and men on board. On 8 December 1756 he advanced to Vice-Admiral of the Red. In December 1756 he was ordered back from the Downs to preside over the trial of Admiral John Byng, at which Smith apparently did his utmost (albeit unsuccessfully) to see that the court's recommendation of leniency was followed. Smith then returned to the Downs Squadron on 24 February 1757 after promotion to the rank of Admiral of the