F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead

Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead, commonly known as F. E. Smith (July 12, 1872 – September 30, 1930) was a British Conservative statesman and lawyer of the early Twentieth Century. He was a skilled orator, noted for his staunch opposition to Irish nationalism. He was noted for his wit, pugnacious views, hard living and drinking.

Related Topics:
July 12 - 1872 - September 30 - 1930 - British - Conservative - Statesman - Lawyer - Twentieth Century - Orator - Irish nationalism - Wit

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Smith was born in Birkenhead in Cheshire on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. Educated at Birkenhead School, he graduated from Wadham College, Oxford in 1896 and taught law at Oxford until 1899, when he was called to the Bar. In 1906 he entered the House of Commons representing the Walton constituency of Liverpool, and attracted attention by a brilliant first parliamentary speech. He was soon a prominent leader of the Unionist wing of the Conservative Party.

Related Topics:
Birkenhead - Cheshire - Battle of the Boyne - Birkenhead School - Wadham College, Oxford - 1896 - Oxford - 1899 - Bar - 1906 - House of Commons - Walton - Liverpool - Unionist - Conservative Party

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He married Margaret Eleanor Furneaux in April 1901 and they had three children, Eleanor, Frederick and Pamela.

Related Topics:
1901 - Frederick

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On the outbreak of the First World War he was placed in charge of the government's Press Bureau, with responsibility for newspaper censorship. In 1915 he was appointed Solicitor General by H. H. Asquith, and soon after succeeded his friend, Sir Edward Carson, as Attorney General. In 1916 he worked to secure the conviction and execution of the Irish nationalist Sir Roger Casement, who had been captured attempting to ship German arms to Ireland.

Related Topics:
First World War - Censorship - 1915 - Solicitor General - H. H. Asquith - Sir Edward Carson - Attorney General - 1916 - Sir Roger Casement - German - Ireland

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In 1919 he was created Baron Birkenhead, of Birkenhead in the County of Chester, and appointed Lord Chancellor by Lloyd George. He was instrumental to the passage of several key legal reforms, and also played an important role in the negotiations that led to the signature of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, which established an independent Irish Free State the following year. His support for this, and his warm relations with the Irish leaders Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins, angered some of his former Unionist associates, notably Sir Edward Carson.

Related Topics:
1919 - Lord Chancellor - Lloyd George - Anglo-Irish Treaty - 1921 - Irish Free State - Arthur Griffith - Michael Collins - Sir Edward Carson

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Smith was created Viscount Birkenhead, of Birkenhead in the County of Chester, in 1921, and Viscount Furneaux, of Charlton in the County of Northampton, and Earl of Birkenhead in 1922. From 1924 to 1928 he served as Secretary of State for India. After retiring from politics he became Rector of Aberdeen University and a director of Tate & Lyle. He died in London in 1930.

Related Topics:
1921 - 1922 - 1924 - 1928 - Secretary of State for India - Aberdeen University - Tate & Lyle - London - 1930

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The opinion of Winston Churchill, who was a friend: "He had all the canine virtues in a remarkable degree - courage, fidelity, vigilance, love of chase."

Related Topics:
Winston Churchill - Canine

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Of Margot Asquith, who was not: "F.E. Smith is very clever, but sometimes his brains go to his head."

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One little-noticed fact is that as "Lord Birkenhead," Smith is a character in the movie Chariots of Fire, an official of the British olympic committee.

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