my the ▁on ▁all ▁important ▁matters ▁rel ating ▁to ▁sh ipping ▁and ▁to ▁eastern ▁trade . ▁ ▁For ▁several ▁years ▁S my the ▁served ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁n avy ' s ▁chief ▁commission ers . ▁S my the ▁was ▁an ▁original ▁advent urer ▁( share holder ) ▁of ▁the ▁Som ers ▁Is les ▁Company ▁on ▁its ▁formation ▁in ▁ 1 6 1 5 , ▁having ▁and ▁also ▁served ▁as ▁Governor ▁( in ▁England , ▁with ▁a ▁Deput y ▁Governor ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁col ony ▁itself ) ▁of ▁the ▁Som ers ▁Is les ▁( or ▁B erm uda ) ▁from ▁its ▁official ▁settlement ▁by ▁the ▁V igin ia ▁Company ▁in ▁ 1 6 1 2 , ▁continu ing ▁in ▁this ▁role ▁after ▁its ▁split ▁with ▁the ▁Virginia ▁Company ▁in ▁ 1 6 1 4 . ▁His ▁connection ▁with ▁the ▁East ▁India ▁Company , ▁the ▁Virginia ▁Company ▁and ▁the ▁Mus c ovy ▁Company , ▁also ▁led ▁S my the ▁to ▁promote ▁and ▁support ▁voy ages ▁for ▁the ▁discovery ▁of ▁the ▁North - West ▁Pass age ▁in ▁North ▁America . ▁William ▁B aff in ▁named ▁Smith ' s ▁Sound ▁to ▁honour ▁the ▁patron ▁of ▁his ▁ 1 6 1 6 ▁voyage ▁of ▁discovery . ▁In ▁January ▁ 1 6 1 8 – 1 9 , ▁S my the ▁was ▁appointed ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁commission ers ▁for ▁the ▁settlement ▁of ▁the ▁differences ▁with ▁the ▁Dutch ▁which , ▁however , ▁after ▁years ▁of ▁discussion , ▁remained ▁for ▁the ▁time , ▁un sett led . ▁ ▁Private ▁life