Abel Smith (politician, born 1829)

For other people named Abel Smith, see Abel Smith (disambiguation).

Smith in 1895.
Arms of Smith: Or, a chevron cotised sable between three demi-griffins couped of the last the two in chief respecting each other[1]

Abel Smith JP (30 December 1829 – 30 May 1898) was an English landowner of the Smith banking family and Conservative politician.

Smith was the son of Abel Smith and his wife Frances Anne Calvert. His father was MP for various constituencies, and his mother was the daughter of General Sir Harry Calvert.[2]

Smith was elected member of parliament (MP) for Hertfordshire in 1854 but lost the seat in 1857. His father died in 1859 and he inherited the 11,000-acre (45 km2) estate of Woodhall Park, Hertfordshire, and various other properties.[3] He was re-elected for Hertfordshire in 1859 and lost the seat again in 1865.

In 1866 he was elected for Hertfordshire again, holding the seat until the constituency was abolished in 1885. In 1885 he was elected MP for Hertford, and held the seat until his death. Smith was also lord of the manor of Rennesley[4] and justice of the peace.

Smith married Lady Susan Emma Pelham, daughter of Henry Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester, on 7 April 1853. Their son Abel Henry Smith was subsequently MP for Hertford.

  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. ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 773
  3. ^ The Bankers Magazine 1859
  4. ^ Parishes: Standon, A History of the County of Hertford: volume 3 (1912), pp. 347–366 Date accessed 1 March 2009