George Smith (1765–1836)
George Smith (30 April 1765 – 26 December 1836) was a British Member of Parliament (MP), banker and director of the East India Company.
He was the fifth son of Abel Smith, a wealthy Nottingham banker and Member of Parliament. Four of his brothers were also Members of Parliament and one, Robert, was raised to the peerage as Baron Carrington. A portion of the family wealth was devoted to buying control of two pocket boroughs, Wendover and Midhurst, and Carrington kept the seats here almost exclusively for use by various members of the Smith family until his power was ended by the Great Reform Act.
Smith entered Parliament in 1791 as member for Lostwithiel, and also represented Midhurst and Wendover in a parliamentary career spread over forty years.
Family and legacy
Smith lived at Selsdon in Surrey. He married Frances Mary Mosley (bap. 24 March 1773, d. 5 July 1844), daughter of Sir John Parker Mosley, 1st Baronet, and Elizabeth Bayley.[1] They had 9 sons and 6 daughters:
- George Robert Smith MP (of Selsdon Park) (1793–1869) m. Jane Maberly (1800–1879, the daughter of John Maberly).
- Oswald Smith (of Blendon Hall) (1794–1863) m. Henrietta Mildred Hodgson (1805–1891), leaving at her death 111 direct surviving descendents.
- John Henry Smith (of Purley Bury)(1795–1887).
- Thomas Charles Smith (1797–1876).
- Edward Peploe Smith (1803–1847) m.1 Henrietta Bailey, m.2 Harriet Chester.
- Arthur Smith (1804–1831).
- Edmund Smith (1809–1873) m. Hester Lushington (1816–1888).
- Mosley Smith (1810–1869).
- Alfred Smith, of Kingswood (1815–1886) m. Mary Wigram (1821–1869).
- Frances Mary Smith (1796–1867) m. the Ven. Robert Mosley Master.
- Georgina Elizabeth Smith (1801–1828) m. Rev. Edward Serocold.
- Emily Smith (1806–1879) m. Rev. Charles Mayne.
- Catherine Smith (1807–1870) m. Edward Wigram.
- Sophia Sarah Smith (1812–1883) m. Rev. William Wigram.
- Augusta Mary Smith (1816–1888) m. Rev. Lewis Deedes.
His memorial in All Saints Church, Sanderstead, states:
GEORGE SMITH ESQUIREOF SELSDON BROTHER OF ROBERT, LORD CARRINGTON FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND A DIRECTOR OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY BORN APRIL XXX MDCCLXV DIED DECEMBER XXVI MDCCCXXXVI IN HIM UNUSUAL MEEKNESS AND SIMPLICITY WERE UNITED WITH UNCOMPROMISING PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND HONOR THE PURITY OF HIS CHARACTER BOTH IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE WAS UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND RESPECTED AND HIS BENEVOLENCE WAS FELT BY ALL AROUND HIM HIS WIDOW AND THIRTEEN SURVIVING SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO INSCRIBE THIS MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY ARE CONSOLED BY THE RECOLLECTION OF HIS PIETY HIS HOPE AND TRUST IN GOD AND HIS CONSTANT ENDEAVOR TO DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF HIS STATION AS A SERVANT OF CHRIST. KEEP INNOCENCY AND TAKE HEED UNTO THE THING THAT IS RIGHT: FOR THAT SHALL BRING A MAN PEACE AT THE LAST.
Smith was a great-great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and therefore also ancestor of Elizabeth II.
References
- ↑ Edward J. Davies, "Some Connections of the Birds of Warwickshire", The Genealogist, 26(2012):58-76.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by George Smith
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Viscount Valletort Reginald Pole-Carew |
Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel 1791–1796 With: Reginald Pole-Carew |
Succeeded by Hans Sloane William Drummond |
| Preceded by Charles Long Sylvester Douglas |
Member of Parliament for Midhurst 1800–1801 With: Charles Long |
Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain |
Member of Parliament for Midhurst 1801–1806 With: Charles Long 1801–1802 Samuel Smith 1802 Edmund Turnor 1802–1806 |
Succeeded by John Smith William Wickham |
| Preceded by John Smith Charles Long |
Member of Parliament for Wendover 1806–1830 With: Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl Stanhope 1806–1807 Francis Horner 1807–1812 Abel Smith 1812–1818 Robert Smith 1818–1820 Samuel Smith 1820–1830 |
Succeeded by Samuel Smith Abel Smith |
| Preceded by John Smith Abel Smith |
Member of Parliament for Midhurst 1830–1831 With: John Abel Smith |
Succeeded by George Robert Smith Martin Tucker Smith |