The record-union., 1891-10-07
WILLIAM HENRY SMITH.
Death of the Government Leader in
the House of Commons.

Death of the Government Leader in
the House of Commons.
LONDON, Oct. 6.-Right Hon. William
Henry Smith, First Lord of the Treasury
and Government leader in the House of
Commons, who has been i'll for some
time, died this afternoon.
Mr.. Smith, who was one of the repre-
sentative business men of England, is
popularity reputed to have left fortune
Of about $4,000 600. Smith made favor
able progress toward recovery until yes
terday, when he became worse owing to
recurrence OF gOut. This morning his
condition became critical, and he died at
p. VI.
William Henry was born in Duke
street, Grosvenor Square, London, June
u, 1873. lie was educated at the Gram
mar School, Travistock. In July, 1865,
he unSuccessfUlly contested Westminster
in the Conservative interest, but his can
didature was renewed with success in No
vember, 1868, when he. defeated John
Stuart Mill. He continued to sit for w est
minister down 10 1885, when after the Re-
distribution Act he was returned from
the Strand, being again elected in 1886. He
was Financial Secretary of the Treasury
from February, 1874, till August s, 1877,
when he was appointed First Lord OF the
Admiralty and a Cabinet Minister, in
succession to the late Ward Hunt
lie went out of office on the retirement
OF the Conservatives in April, 1880, and
was appointed Secretary of War in lSS5
on the formation of the Conservative
Government In June of that wear, On the
resignation of Sir William Hart Dyke in
January, 1886, w. II. Smith was ap-
pointed Chief Secretary for Ireland but
the Salisbury Government fell immedi-
ately afterWard and he held the appoint-
ment tor but six days. In Lord Sails
bury'S second administration he was aD-
pointed Secretary Of State for War. When
the Ministry was reconstructed, on the
resignation OF Lord Churchill, Mr..
Smith became First Lord of the Treasury
and leader of the House of Commons.
Mr.. Smith was member of the first and
second School Boards for London, his
retirement i'll 1874 being occasioned by
the pressure of official duties. The Uni
versity of Oxford conferred on him the
honorary degree of ID. G. L. in 1879, and
he was presented with the freedom of
the Statloners' Company in 1880. He
was magistrate for Herttordshire and
the Liberty Of st. Albans, and mem
Der Of the Council of Kings College,
London.
Balfour will succeed Smith as Con-
servative leader in the Commons, if the
influence of the powerful Carlton Club
ana Ine opinion OF Ine conservative
party as q whole rules in the decision to
be made by Lord Salisbury. On the
other hand, if the negotiations now pend
ing Tor the reconstruction of the Cabinet
based on the absorption Of Liberal
Unionists are effected, Goschen will
claim the leadership.
An intimate friend of Goschen tells an
Associated Press correspondent that
Lord Salisbury, during the critical period
of coalition, gave written assurance that
Goschen should have the leadership il
Smith retired, the latter's health being
precarious then.
Gladstone has wired the following mes
sage of coincidence to relatives of Mr.
Smith: Il have received with grief the
news of Mr.. Smiths death. l shall long
retain recollection of his kindly nature,
fine qualities and distinguished devotion
TO public service.''