First Lord, Hugh Childers, as on Smith himself. Smith held the office for three years until the Liberals returned to power. In 1885, a redistribution of seats led to Smith now standing for the Strand division in Westminster, and he served as Chief Secretary for Ireland for a short period the following year. He was twice Secretary of State for War, the first time during Lord Salisbury's brief ministry between 1885 and 1886, and the second when the Conservatives won the 1886 general election. He succeeded this appointment in 1887 as First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons and became Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1891. He died shortly afterwards at Walmer Castle, Kent, and his widow was created Viscountess Hambleden in his honour and took the title from the village close to the Smiths' country house of Greenlands, near Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. One of the few ministers personally close to Lord Salisbury (apart from the Salisbury's nephew, Arthur Balfour), Smith was dubbed "Old Morality" because of his austere manner and conduct. Family Smith married Emily, daughter of Frederick Dawes Danvers, in 1858. They had two sons and four daughters: Mabel Danvers Smith (d. 1956; she married the 5th Earl of Harrowby) Emily Anna Smith (1859–1942; she married Admiral William Acland) Helen Smith (1860–1944) Beatrice Danvers Smith (1864–1942) Henry Walton Smith (1865–1866) William Frederick Danvers Smith (1868–1928) He died in October 1891, aged 66. The following month, his widow was raised to the peerage in his honour as Viscountess Hambleden, of Hambleden in the County of Buckingham. She died in August 1913 and was succeeded by her and Smith's only surviving son, Frederick. Endnotes Bibliography Further reading External links |- 1825 births 1891 deaths British retail company founders British Secretaries of State First Lords of the Admiralty Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports Leaders of the Conservative Party (UK) English businesspeople in retailing Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies UK MPs 1868–1874 UK MPs 1874–1880 UK MPs 1880–1885 UK MPs 1885–1886 UK MPs 1886–1892 Stewards of Henley Royal Regatta Leaders of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom People associated with the Royal National College for the Blind Members of the London School Board Fellows of the Royal Society Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Members of the Privy Council of Ireland Chief Secretaries for