Biography of William Henry Smith

William Henry Smith


William Henry Smith

Date (from)	(Date to)	Event
24 June 1825		Born (London).
1849		Member of the managing committee of King's College Hospital.
1855		Elected to the Metropolitan Board of Works.
1858		Married Emily, eldest daughter of Frederick Dawes Danvers, and widow of an old friend, Benjamin Auber Leach.
1865		Head of WH. Smith & Son upon death of his father.
July 1865		Stood unsuccesfully as M.P. for Westminster.
December 1868	November 1885	M.P. (Liberal-conservative) for Westminster.
February 1874	August 1977	Financial Secretary to the Treasury in Disraeli's 2nd ministry.
15 August 1877	13 May 1880	First Lord of the Admiralty in Disraeli's 2nd ministry.
1885	December 1885	Secretary of State for War in Salisbury's 1st ministry.
November 1885	6 October 1891	M.P. for Strand division of Westminster (died in office).
December 1885	January 1886	Chief secretary for Ireland (until government defeat).
August 1886	December 1887	Secretary of State for War in Salisbury's 2nd ministry.
December 1886	6 October 1891	First Lord of the Treasury and leader of the House of Commons (died in office).
1 May 1891	6 October 1891	Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (died in office).
6 October 1891		Died.
10 November 1891		Widow created Viscountess Hambleden, with remainder to Smith's heirs.
Smith was the grandson of the founder of the newsagency of 'WH. Smith & Son'; between 1851 and 1862 he negociated exclusive rights of selling books and newspapers on all the important railways in England.
Literature: (DNB; Stenton).