biography
| name: |
Smith, W(illiam) H(enry)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1825–91)
|
| biography:
| Newsagent, bookseller and statesman, born in London, UK, the son of William Henry Smith. He became his father's partner in 1846, and later assumed full control. The business steadily expanded, and in 1849 secured the privilege of selling books and newspapers at railway stations. He entered parliament in 1868, was financial secretary of the Treasury (1874–7), First Lord of the Admiralty (1877–80), and secretary for war (1885). In the second Salisbury ministry he was First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons until his death. |
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