George Robert Smith (MP)
George Robert Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date England |
| Died | February 22, 1869 (aged 75) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, politician |
| Years active | 1830–1841 (politics) |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for Midhurst and Wycombe; director of Smith's Bank |
George Robert Smith (born 2 May 1793, died 22 February 1869) was a notable English banker and a politician affiliated with the Whig party. His lineage included Thomas Smith, his great-grandfather, who established Smith's Bank, while his father, George Smith (1765–1836), held a directorial position at the East India Company.
His parliamentary career was influenced by his uncle, Lord Carrington, who had control over the pocket borough of Midhurst in Sussex. George Robert represented this constituency as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1830 until 1831. Although re-elected in 1831, he lost his parliamentary seat following the passage of the Reform Act 1832, which eliminated most pocket boroughs. He made an unsuccessful attempt to win a seat in Buckinghamshire in 1837 but was elected as MP for Wycombe in 1838 after his cousin Robert Carrington inherited a peerage. He maintained this position until 1841, reportedly due to a disagreement with his conservative cousin.
In addition to his political roles, Smith was involved in banking leadership; he acted as director of Smith's Bank in Derby between 1837 and 1843 and later took on a directorship at the London branch starting in 1850. Furthermore, in 1847, he participated as a member of the British Relief Association's committee.