F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead

The Earl of Birkenhead
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
In office
10 January 1919 – 19 October 1922
MonarchGeorge V
Prime MinisterDavid Lloyd George
Preceded byThe Lord Finlay
Succeeded byThe Viscount Cave
Secretary of State for India
In office
6 November 1924 – 18 October 1928
Prime MinisterStanley Baldwin
Preceded byThe Lord Olivier
Succeeded byThe Viscount Peel
Attorney-General for England
In office
3 November 1915 – 10 January 1919
Prime MinisterH. H. Asquith
Preceded bySir Edward Carson
Succeeded bySir Gordon Hewart
Solicitor-General for England
In office
2 June 1915 – 8 November 1915
Prime MinisterH. H. Asquith
Preceded bySir Stanley Buckmaster
Succeeded bySir George Cave
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
3 February 1919 – 30 September 1930
Hereditary Peerage
Preceded byPeerage created
Succeeded byThe 2nd Earl of Birkenhead
Member of Parliament
for Liverpool Walton
In office
8 February 1906 – 14 December 1918
Preceded byJames Henry Stock
Succeeded byHarry Chilcott
Personal details
Born
Frederick Edwin Smith

12 July 1872 (1872-07-12)
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Died30 September 1930(1930-09-30) (aged 58)
Belgravia, London, England
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Margaret Eleanor Furneaux
(m. 1901)
Children
Education

Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead, GCSI, PC, DL (12 July 1872 – 30 September 1930) was a British Conservative politician and barrister who attained high office in the early 20th century, in particular as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. 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 Birkenhead's death aged 58 from pneumonia caused by cirrhosis of the liver.