Michael Babington Smith

Michael Babington Smith
Born	Michael James Babington Smith (1901-03-20) 20 March 1901 Constantinople
Died	26 October 1984(1984-10-26) (aged 83) London, England
Occupation(s)	Banker, athlete, military officer
Years active	1923–1980s
Known for	Director of Finance at SHAEF; Director at Bank of England; High Sheriff of the County of London

Brigadier Michael James Babington Smith (20 March 1901 – 26 October 1984), often referred to as MJBS in London circles, was a distinguished British banker, athlete, and military officer hailing from the Babington family. During the Second World War, he held the position of Director of Finance at the SHAEF under General Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1943 to 1945. Following the war, he dedicated twenty years as a director at the Bank of England. Additionally, he fulfilled the role of treasurer for the National Art Collections Fund and served twice as High Sheriff of the County of London.

Early life and education

Michael was born in Constantinople in 1901 as the eldest child of Sir Henry Babington Smith, a British civil servant who contributed to the Ottoman Public Debt Administration council and later became a director at the Bank of England. His grandfather on his father’s side was Archibald Smith of Jordanhill, noted for his work in law and mathematics. Among his siblings were MP James Parker Smith, and Arthur Hamilton Smith, who was Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities at the British Museum. His mother, Lady Elisabeth Bruce, was the daughter of Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin, former Viceroy of India. Other notable family members included journalist Constance Babington Smith MBE and academic/intelligence figure Bernard Babington Smith OBE.

Educated at Eton College, Michael distinguished himself particularly in cricket before advancing to Trinity College, Cambridge. Throughout his life, he maintained an active involvement in sports, especially fencing—he reached the finals of the British foil championships five times and captained England’s fencing team in 1931.

Banking career

Babington Smith began his banking profession in 1923 with Glyn, Mills & Co., where he remained for half a century. He advanced steadily: becoming a partner in 1932, managing director in 1938, and deputy chairman by 1946. That same year, he joined the Court of Directors at the Bank of England. In 1949, he broke new ground as the first director appointed from a clearing bank, maintaining this role for two decades.

His directorships extended beyond this to include positions at the Bank for International Settlements (1965–74), chairman of the London Committee for the Ottoman Bank (1975–82), as well as roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland (1938–63), Banque de Suez (1957–74), and the holding company AEI (1949–68).

Military service

Commissioned into the Territorial Army in 1925 with the Leicestershire Yeomanry, Babington Smith contributed to the Home Guard during World War II’s early years. Between 1941 and 1943, he managed financial affairs for liberated Italian territories in East Africa. In 1943, he was summoned back to Britain to support US General Dwight D. Eisenhower at SHAEF as Director of Finance, overseeing financial planning for Allied operations during the invasion and governance of Western Europe until 1945.

Honours

In recognition of his wartime contributions, Babington Smith was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, military division, in 1945. Moreover, he was awarded France’s Légion d'honneur avec Palme and Croix de Guerre for his service during the conflict.

Personal life

In 1943, he wed Jean Mary Meade-Fetherstonhaugh, the granddaughter of Admiral of the Fleet Richard Meade, 4th Earl of Clanwilliam. Together, they had one son and two daughters. Although Babington Smith never formally retired, his activities were limited by arthritis and injuries sustained in a car accident. He passed away in London in 1984 at the age of 83.

Following his death, his widow received a royal warrant in 1990 that conferred upon her the status of an earl's daughter, adopting the title Lady Jean Babington Smith. She died in 2001.

External links

• Michael Babington Smith at CricketArchive