William Henry Smith
- Favourite Briton.

London
Born on 24th of June 1825
Died on 6th of October 1891

Smith was the third generation of his family to run their newsagents and bookseller business, and contrary to the usual build-expand-spend generational pattern he took it to new heights, three years after becoming a partner (in 1846) his coup of winning the concession to sell at railway stations proving hugely lucrative. His second career was as a politician, appointed First Lord of the Admiralty (without any seagoing experience) 10 years after entering the Commons (his meteoric rise satirised in HMS Pinafore). A capable and loyal minister he also served as First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the Commons.

More famous Britons here

Contributors: Do you have a site related to William Henry Smith?
Supply some content for this page and we will gladly add a link to your site. Email here.

4096 views since 17th August 2010

Brit Quote:
A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell. - George Bernard Shaw
More Quotes

On this day:
Normans Invade Ireland - 1169, Great Exhibition opens - 1851, TUC meets to agree on a General Strike - 1926, Sutton Hoo Dig Begins - 1939, Betting Shops Legal - 1961, Last UK Concert by Beatles - 1966, Tony Blairs 'New Labour' sweeps to power - 1997, Millennium May Day Protests - 2000
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages