Abel Smith (1788–1859)

Abel Smith (17 July 1788 – 23 February 1859) was a longtime British Member of Parliament.

Arms of Smith: Or, a chevron cotised sable between three demi-griffins couped of the last the two in chief respecting each other[1]

He was the eighth child but eldest son of Samuel Smith, also a Member of Parliament, and nephew of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington. The family had grown wealthy through banking in Nottingham.

Abel Smith entered Parliament in 1810 as member for Malmesbury, and subsequently also represented Wendover and Midhurst, both pocket boroughs controlled by his uncle Lord Carrington, sitting in the Commons for 20 of the last 22 years before the Great Reform Act. He and his father were Wendover's last MPs, as they sat together as its members for the last two years before the borough's abolition.[2]

Three years after the Reform Act, he was elected for Hertfordshire, and served another twelve years as its MP. He was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1849.[3]

Smith married Frances Anne Calvert, the daughter of General Sir Harry Calvert.[4] Their son Abel Smith also became MP for Hertfordshire.

Notes

  1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.223, Smith/Carington, Baron Carrington; p.145, Smith, Baron Bicester, both descendants of the banker Abel Smith II (1717–1788)
  2. Lundy, Darryl. "p. 13817 § 138161". The Peerage.
  3. "No. 20944". The London Gazette. 13 February 1849. p. 431.
  4. Lundy, Darryl. "p. 21916". The Peerage.

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Philip Gell
Sir George Bowyer
Member of Parliament for Malmesbury
1810–1812
With: Philip Gell
Succeeded by
William Hicks-Beach
Sir Charles Saxton
Preceded by
Francis Horner
George Smith
Member of Parliament for Wendover
18121818
With: George Smith
Succeeded by
Robert Smith
George Smith
Preceded by
John Smith
Samuel Smith
Member of Parliament for Midhurst
18201830
With: John Smith
Succeeded by
John Abel Smith
George Smith
Preceded by
Samuel Smith
George Smith
Member of Parliament for Wendover
18301832
With: Samuel Smith
Constituency abolished
Preceded by
Viscount Grimston
Nicolson Calvert
Sir John Sebright
Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire
18351847
With: Rowland Alston
Viscount Grimston 1835–1846
Granville Ryder 1841–1847
Thomas Plumer Halsey 1846–1847
Succeeded by
Sir Henry Meux
Thomas Brand
Thomas Plumer Halsey
Honorary titles
Preceded by
William Parker
High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
1849
Succeeded by
Fulke Greville-Nugent


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