Samuel Smith (watchmaker)
Samuel Smith was the founder of Smiths Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest engineering businesses. Career. Trained as a craftsman, Samuel Smith opened his first shop in Newington Causeway, in London, in 1851. His business expanded rapidly, as he gained a reputation for offering a fast and friendly service. This enabled him to open a second shop in 1871. He had a son, also named Samuel, who developed the business to manufacture clocks and dials for automobiles. Samuel Smith Snr. died in 1875.