F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead
Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead,
GCSI,
PC (
12 July 1872–
30 September 1930) was a
British Conservative statesman and
lawyer of the early
20th century. He was a skilled
orator, noted for his staunch opposition to
Irish nationalism, his
wit, pugnacious views, and hard living and drinking. He is perhaps best remembered today as Winston Churchill's greatest personal and political friend until Smith's untimely death at age 58.
Smith was born in
Birkenhead in
Cheshire and was 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.
He married Margaret Eleanor Furneaux in April
1901 and they had three children, Eleanor,
Frederick and Pamela.
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.
In
1919 he was created
Baron Birkenhead, of Birkenhead in the County of Cheshire, 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.
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 the
University of Aberdeen and a director of
Tate & Lyle. He died in
London in
1930.
The opinion of
Winston Churchill, who was a friend: "He had all the
canine virtues in a remarkable degree â€" courage, fidelity, vigilance, love of chase." Of
Margot Asquith, who was not: "F. E. Smith is very clever, but sometimes his brains go to his head."As "Lord Birkenhead", he is a character in the movie
Chariots of Fire, an official of the British Olympic Committee.
In the year of his death, he published his utopian
The World in 2030 A.D. with airbrush illustrations by E McKnight Kauffman.[
1]
* "A couple of
aspirates." - F. E. Smith's prescription for
J. H. Thomas, who had complained of "an 'ell of an 'eadache".
* "We have the highest authority for believing that the meek shall inherit the earth; though I have never found any particular corroboration of this aphorism in the records of
Somerset House."
On
colonialism:
* "The world continues to offer glittering prizes to those who have stout hearts and sharp swords."
On
Bolshevism:
* "Nature has no cure for this sort of madness, though I have known a legacy from a rich relative work wonders."
On
Winston Churchill:
* "He has devoted the best years of his life to preparing his impromptu speeches."
In Court, as a young
barrister* Judge: "I have read your case, Mr Smith, and I am no wiser now than I was when I started.":F. E. Smith: "Possibly not, My Lord, but much better informed."
* Judge: "Are you trying to show contempt for this court, Mr Smith?":F. E. Smith: "No, My Lord. I am attempting to conceal it."
* Judge: "Have you ever heard of a saying by
Bacon — the great Bacon — that youth and discretion are ill-wedded companions?":F. E. Smith: "Yes, I have. And have you ever heard of a saying of Bacon — the great Bacon — that a much-talking judge is like an ill-tuned
cymbal?":Judge: "You are extremely offensive, young man!":F. E. Smith: "As a matter of fact we both are; but I am trying to be, and you can't help it."
* Judge: "Mr Smith, you must not direct the jury. What do you suppose I am on the bench for?" :F. E. Smith: "It is not for me, your honour, to attempt to fathom the inscrutable workings of Providence."
* F. E. Smith to witness: "So, you were as drunk as a judge?":Judge (interjecting): "You mean as drunk as a lord?":F. E. Smith: "Yes, My Lord."
*
Master of the Rolls: "Really, Mr Smith, do give this Court credit for some little intelligence.":F. E. Smith: "That is the mistake I made in the Court below, My Lord."
*
Free ebook of F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead at
Project Gutenberg
