William Henry Smith
Title

William Henry Smith

Caption

William Henry Smith (1825-1891), son of William Henry Smith (1792-1865), English businessman and politician. He joined his father's newsagent business in 1846 and introduced the selling of books and newspapers at railway stations. Elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Westminster in 1868. In 1877 he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty and is caricatured as Sir Joseph Porter who, in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "HMS Pinafore", sings 'I always voted at my party's call,/And I never thought for myself at all./I thought so little, they rewarded me/By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee." During his three years is this position he was known as Pinafore Smith. Engraving c1885.

Date

19th century

Credit line

Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library

Reference

ARP07112_009973P

License type

Rights managed

Available size

29,0Mb (2,8Mb) / 9,5in x 11,8in / 2864 x 3543 (300dpi)

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