William Henry Smith

Life & Legacy

William Henry Smith, FRS (24 June 1825 – 6 October 1891) was an English bookseller, newsagent and politician. As head of the family firm W H Smith, he expanded the firm and introduced the practice of selling books and newspapers at railway stations. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1868 and rose to the position of First Lord of the Admiralty less than ten years later. Because of his lack of naval experience, he was perceived as a model for the character Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore (and consequently nicknamed Pinafore Smith). In the mid-1880s, he was twice Secretary of State for War, and later First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons, among other posts.