F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead

Time magazine, 20 August 1923

Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead, GCSI, PC (12 July 1872–30 September 1930) was a British Conservative statesman and lawyer of the early 20th century. He was a skilled orator, noted for his staunch opposition to Irish nationalism, his wit, pugnacious views, and hard living and drinking. He is perhaps best remembered today as Winston Churchill's greatest personal and political friend until Birkenhead's untimely death at age 58.

Early life and education

Smith was born in Birkenhead in Cheshire and was educated at Birkenhead School. He graduated from Wadham College, Oxford in 1896 and taught law at Oxford until 1899, when he was called to the Bar.

In 1906 he entered the House of Commons representing the Walton constituency of Liverpool, and attracted attention by a brilliant first Parliamentary speech. He was soon a prominent leader of the Unionist wing of the Conservative Party.

Marriage

He married Margaret Eleanor Furneaux in April 1901 and they had three children, Eleanor, Frederick and Pamela.

First World War

On the outbreak of the First World War he was placed in charge of the Government's Press Bureau, with responsibility for newspaper censorship. In 1915 he was appointed Solicitor General by H. H. Asquith, and soon after succeeded his friend Sir Edward Carson as Attorney General. In 1916 he worked to secure the conviction and execution of the Irish nationalist Sir Roger Casement, who had been captured attempting to ship German arms to Ireland.

Baron Birkenhead

In 1919 he was created Baron Birkenhead, of Birkenhead in the County of Cheshire, and appointed Lord Chancellor by Lloyd George. He was instrumental to the passage of several key legal reforms, and also played an important role in the negotiations that led to the signature of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, which established an independent Irish Free State the following year. His support for this, and his warm relations with the Irish leaders Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins, angered some of his former Unionist associates, notably Sir Edward Carson.

Smith was created Viscount Birkenhead, of Birkenhead in the County of Chester, in 1921, and Viscount Furneaux, of Charlton in the County of Northampton, and Earl of Birkenhead in 1922. From 1924 to 1928 he served as Secretary of State for India. After retiring from politics he became Rector of the University of Aberdeen, a director of Tate & Lyle, and High Steward of Oxford University. He died in London in 1930.

The opinion of Winston Churchill, who was a friend: "He had all the canine virtues in a remarkable degree — courage, fidelity, vigilance, love of chase." Of Margot Asquith, who was not: "F. E. Smith is very clever, but sometimes his brains go to his head."As "Lord Birkenhead", he is a character in the movie Chariots of Fire, an official of the British Olympic Committee.

In the year of his death, he published his utopian The World in 2030 A.D. with airbrush illustrations by E McKnight Kauffman.[1]

Quotations

• "A couple of aspirates." - F. E. Smith's prescription for J. H. Thomas, who had complained of "an 'ell of an 'eadache".

• "We have the highest authority for believing that the meek shall inherit the earth; though I have never found any particular corroboration of this aphorism in the records of Somerset House."

On colonialism:

• "The world continues to offer glittering prizes to those who have stout hearts and sharp swords."

On Bolshevism:

• "Nature has no cure for this sort of madness, though I have known a legacy from a rich relative work wonders."

On Winston Churchill:

• "He has devoted the best years of his life to preparing his impromptu speeches."

In Court, as a young barrister

• Judge: "I have read your case, Mr Smith, and I am no wiser now than I was when I started."

F. E. Smith: "Possibly not, My Lord, but much better informed."

• Judge: "Are you trying to show contempt for this court, Mr Smith?"

F. E. Smith: "No, My Lord. I am attempting to conceal it."

• Judge: "Have you ever heard of a saying by Bacon — the great Bacon — that youth and discretion are ill-wedded companions?"

F. E. Smith: "Yes, I have. And have you ever heard of a saying of Bacon — the great Bacon — that a much-talking judge is like an ill-tuned cymbal?"

Judge: "You are extremely offensive, young man!"

F. E. Smith: "As a matter of fact we both are; but I am trying to be, and you can't help it."

• Judge: "Mr Smith, you must not direct the jury. What do you suppose I am on the bench for?"

F. E. Smith: "It is not for me, your honour, to attempt to fathom the inscrutable workings of Providence."

• F. E. Smith to witness: "So, you were as drunk as a judge?"

Judge (interjecting): "You mean as drunk as a lord?"

F. E. Smith: "Yes, My Lord."

• Master of the Rolls: "Really, Mr Smith, do give this Court credit for some little intelligence."

F. E. Smith: "That is the mistake I made in the Court below, My Lord."

External links

• Works by F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead at Project Gutenberg