William H. Smith, Lieut. R.N.R., son of late Commander John S. Smith, R.N.—one of the last surviving officers of the battle of Trafalgar—was born at Prospect House, Broadstairs, Kent, England, in 1838. He served as midshipman on board the _Calcutta_ in the Australian trade: entered the Allan service during the progress of the Crimean war, and was present at several of the engagements between the Russians and the allied forces: went to Odessa with the allied fleets, and was serving on board the _Indian_ when she received sealed orders to proceed to Kinburn and lay buoys for the ironclads which bombarded and destroyed the forts. Captain Smith’s first command in the Allan service was the steamer _St. George_; subsequently he was master of the _Hibernian_, _Circassian_, _Peruvian_, _Sardinian_ and the _Parisian_. He succeeded Captain James Wylie as Commodore of the fleet, and held that position for several years, until he resigned to accept the office of Chairman of the Board of Examiners of Masters and Mates, Commissioner for enquiring into wrecks, and one of the nautical advisers of the Government. This office he still holds with headquarters in Halifax, N. S. Capt. Smith was always very popular with the travelling community. On leaving the service he was presented with a valuable set of plate. [Illustration: CAPTAIN ALEX. AIRD.] Alexander Aird, previous to joining the Allan Line, had been in command of the _John Bell_ and _United Kingdom_ of the Anchor Line. His first command in the Allan Line was the _St. George_ in 1864. Subsequently, he was captain of the _St. David_, _Nova Scotian_, _Nestorian_, _Scandinavian_, and, finally, of the _Sarmatian_. Of the last-named ship he was very proud, and it was a feather in his cap that he brought out the Marquis of Lorne and Princess Louise in 1878, receiving from them a handsome recognition of his efforts to secure their comfort. Owing to impaired health he retired from the sea some years previous to his death, which took place in 1892. [Illustration: CAPTAIN RITCHIE.] Robert Brown, of the _Polynesian_, “the rolling Polly,” as she used to be called, was the _beau ideal_ of a fine old English gentleman, than whom none could more gracefully discharge the honours of the table. He had many encounters with field ice off the coast of Newfoundland, but by dint of his caution, skill and patience, he invariably came out scatheless, though not unfrequently locked up in the ice for weeks at a time.