3788 x 5091 px | 32,1 x 43,1 cm | 12,6 x 17 inches | 300dpi
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William Henry Smith (24 June 1825 – 6 October 1891) was an English bookseller and newsagent of the family firm W H Smith, who expanded the firm and introduced the practice of selling books and newspapers at railway stations. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1868 and rose to the position of First Lord of the Admiralty less than ten years thereafter. Because of his lack of military experience, he was perceived as a model for the character Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore. In the mid-1880s, he was twice Secretary of State for War, and later First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons, among other posts. Smith was born in London, the son of William Henry Smith (1792-1865). He was educated at Tavistock Grammar School before joining the business with his father in 1846. As a result of his involvement, the business became a household name (W H Smith), and the practice of selling books and newspapers at railway stations began. In 1868, Smith was elected Member of Parliament for Westminster as a Conservative after an initial attempt to get into Parliament as a "Liberal Conservative" in 1865 as a supporter of Palmerston . In 1874 Smith was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury when Disraeli returned as Prime Minister. In 1877 he became First Lord of the Admiralty. The appointment of a man with no naval or military experience to govern the Royal Navy was satirised by Gilbert and Sullivan in the character of Sir Joseph Porter, KCB, in their 1878 comic opera, H.M.S. Pinafore). W. S. Gilbert's Pinafore lyrics are scathing: I grew so rich that I was sent By a pocket borough into Parliament. I always voted at my party's call, And I never thought of thinking for myself at all. I thought so little, they rewarded me By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee! Smith would be known by the derisive nickname "Pinafore Smith" during his three years in the post of First Lord. Smith held this office for three years until the Liberals
