William Henry Smith (politician)

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For other persons named William Henry Smith, see William Henry Smith (disambiguation).

The Rt Hon. W.H. Smith

A Long Distance Swim
W.H. Smith: "Hooray - another stroke or two and we've done it."
Cartoon satirising Smith as rowing and Lord Salisbury, First Lord of the Treasury, swimming towards the prorogation (ending) of the Parliamentary year, to escape the twin waves of Free Education and Land Purchase, both contentious issues of the time. Smith died some three months after publication of the cartoon.
From Punch Vol. 101, August 8, 1891

William Henry Smith (24 June 1825 – 6 October 1891) was the son of William Henry Smith (1792-1865). He was born in London and educated at Tavistock Grammar School before joining the business with his father in 1846. As a result of his involvement, the business became a household name (W H Smith), and the practice of selling books and newspapers at railway stations began. In 1868 he was elected Member of Parliament for Westminster as a Conservative, and was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury six years later when Disraeli returned as Prime Minister. In 1877 he became First Lord of the Admiralty. The appointment gave rise to the character of Sir Joseph Porter, KCB, in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore). W. S. Gilbert's Pinafore lyrics are scathing:

I grew so rich that I was sent

By a pocket borough into Parliament.

I always voted at my party's call,

And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.

I thought so little, they rewarded me

By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

Smith would be known by the derisive nickname "Pinafore Smith" during his three years in the post of First Lord. Smith held this office for three years until the Liberals returned to power.

In 1885 a redistribution of seats led to Smith now standing for the Strand division in Westminster, and served as Chief Secretary for Ireland for a short period in the following year. He was twice Secretary of State for War, the first time during Lord Salisbury's brief ministry between 1885 and 1886, and the second when the Conservatives won the 1886 General Election. He succeeded this appointment in 1887 as First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons, and became Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1891, dying shortly afterwards at Walmer Castle. His widow was created Viscountess Hambleden, taking the title from the village close to the Smiths' country house of Greenlands, near Henley-on-Thames. One of the few ministers personally close to Lord Salisbury (apart from the latter's nephew Arthur Balfour), Smith was dubbed "Old Morality" due to his austere manner and conduct.