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.
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...
Other Subjects
Saracen's Head Inn
Mentioned in 1522 as an inn with 30 beds and stalls for four horses. Removed (as shown in the picture) for the formation of Holborn Viaduct and its approaches 1868.
1 memorial
1 memorial
James Purdey the younger
Gunmaker, built premises in 1880 to house his new showrooms and workshops, James Purdey & Sons Ltd. The Picture Source website has a short on-line history and also informs about a book on the s...
1 memorial
Fortune of War pub
The Golden Boy was originally attached to the front of this public-house and remains to mark the site. From 'The Italian Boy' by Sarah Wise we learnt that this pub was originally called The Naked ...
1 memorial
Grodzinski's bakery
In 1890 (previously thought to have been 1888) Harris and Judith Grodzinski arrived in the East End from what is now Belarus. Starting in a street stall they then set up a bakery at 31 Fieldgate S...
1 memorial