William Henry Smith (1792–1865): Difference between revisions
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{{Other people2|William H. Smith}} |
{{Other people2|William H. Smith}} |
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'''William Henry Smith''' (7 July 1792 – 28 July 1865), born in Lt. Thurlow, Suffolk, was an [[entrepreneur]] whose business was about both [[newsagents]] and [[bookstores|book shops]]. He ran his business in [[London]], where he died. The family business evolved into the chain [[W H Smith]]. |
'''William Henry Smith''' (7 July 1792 – 28 July 1865), born in Lt. Thurlow, Suffolk, was an [[entrepreneur]] whose business was about both [[newsagents]] and [[bookstores|book shops]]. He ran his business in [[London]], where he died. The family business evolved into the chain [[W H Smith]]. |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Born the son of [[Henry Walton Smith]] and Anna Eastaugh, William Henry Smith was brought up by his mother following the death of his father when he was only a few weeks old. |
Born the son of [[Henry Walton Smith]] and Anna Eastaugh, William Henry Smith was brought up by his mother following the death of his father when he was only a few weeks old. |
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He died in 1865. His former home in Hyde Park Street carries a [[blue plaque]] to his memory. |
He died in 1865. His former home in Hyde Park Street carries a [[blue plaque]] to his memory. |
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The [[Gilbert & Sullivan]] song "When I was a lad", with the famous line "... and now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Nav-ee" from [[H.M.S. Pinafore]] (which opened in 1878) was aimed at his appointment as [[First Lord of the Admiralty]]. |
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==Family== |
==Family== |
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Revision as of 15:46, 15 February 2011
William Henry Smith (7 July 1792 – 28 July 1865), born in Lt. Thurlow, Suffolk, was an entrepreneur whose business was about both newsagents and book shops. He ran his business in London, where he died. The family business evolved into the chain W H Smith.
Career
Born the son of Henry Walton Smith and Anna Eastaugh, William Henry Smith was brought up by his mother following the death of his father when he was only a few weeks old.
In 1812, following the death of Zaccheus Coates, a business associate of his mother, he went into the family business in partnership with his mother and his brother.[1]
In 1816 his mother died and the business was equally divided between the two brothers.[1]
He retired in 1857. In retirement he was a director of the London Pneumatic Despatch Company.
He died in 1865. His former home in Hyde Park Street carries a blue plaque to his memory.
The Gilbert & Sullivan song "When I was a lad", with the famous line "... and now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Nav-ee" from H.M.S. Pinafore (which opened in 1878) was aimed at his appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty.
Family
In 1817, William Henry married Mary Ann Cooper, a rigorous practitioner of Wesley's Protestantism: they married at St George's, Hanover Square and eventually they had eight children: seven girls, and one boy, who was also named William Henry Smith.
References
Bibliography
- First With The News: The History of WH.Smith, 1792-1972. By Charles Wilson. WHS, 1985.