Person    | Male  Born 24/6/1825  Died 6/10/1891

W. H. Smith

William Henry Smith. Bookseller and politician. The son in "W. H. Smith and Son". He introduced the W. H. Smith stalls at railway stations and the business thrived. Entered politics in 1868.  Appointed First Lord of the Admiralty when he had little naval experience and so thought to be the model for Sir Joseph (ruler-of-the-Queen's-Nav-ee) Porter in Gilbert & Sullivan's 'H.M.S. Pinafore'. Promoted the Baconian Theory, the idea that Francis Bacon wrote the plays commonly attributed to Shakespeare. Father of Lord Hambleden

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
W. H. Smith

Commemorated ati

W. H. Smith - W2

London County Council W. H. Smith, 1825 - 1891, bookseller and statesman, li...

Read More

Other Subjects

May Fair Hotel

May Fair Hotel

A luxury hotel, built on the site of the grounds of Devonshire House. opened in 1927 with King George V and Queen Mary in attendance.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Richard Budd

Richard Budd

Born Brixton. Worked in the stock exchange. Father to Henry Budd and lived with Henry's family at 35 Russell Square. Died Tunbridge Wells. Originally buried at St Botolph, Bishopsgate but was moved...

Person, Commerce

1 memorial
Cornhill market

Cornhill market

Cornhill was apparently the only market allowed to be held after noon in the 14th century.  Stow reports Cornhill holding a corn-market (not surprisingly) but also old clothes being sold there.

Event, Commerce

1 memorial
South Suburban Gas Company

South Suburban Gas Company

Founded as the North Surrey Gas Company, it became the Crystal Palace District Gas Company before changing to its final name in 1904. It amalgamated with various other companies and was nationalise...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial