Frank Smith (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Francis Samuel Smith was a British
newspaper editor and Christian socialist politician
, who contested a large number of elections before finally winning a parliamentary seat in his mid-70s.
Born in Chelsea
, Smith was educated privately and ran an upholstery
company in Sloane Street
. He was active in the Chelsea Mission, and through that joined the Salvation Army
in its early days. He moved to the United States
to organise the Salvationist movement there, then returned to the UK as the first leader of the Social Wing of the Salvation Army. In 1890, he co-wrote In Darkest England and the Way Out with William Booth
. However, he left the movement later in the year, to involve himself in the labour movement
, founding the Labor Army and Workers' Cry, a newspaper which he edited from two years. In 1892, he became editor of the Weekly Dispatch
, holding the post for three years.
Smith stood unsuccessfully in Hammersmith
at the 1892 UK general election, but he was elected to the London County Council
, playing a key role on the body until 1913. He became a founding member of the Independent Labour Party
(ILP), and was its first parliamentary candidate, at the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894
. A close friend of its leader, Keir Hardie
, he drew on some experience in radical
journalism
to assist with the relaunch of the Labour Leader
. Smith also stood in Glasgow Tradeston
at the 1895 general election, in the meantime involving himself in spiritualism
and the Brotherhood Movement, emphasising that, for him, socialism
was entirely compatible with religion. After the election, he undertook a speaking tour of the United States with Hardie. In 1901, he resigned his council seat and rejoined the Salvation Army, but continued as an active socialist, becoming Secretary of the National Right to Work Council in 1908.
The ILP was a founding element of the Labour Party
, and Smith stood under this label in many elections: the Taunton by-election, 1909, Croydon by-election, 1909, in Chatham
in 1910, Balham and Tooting
in 1918, Birmingham West
in 1922 and 1923, and Nuneaton
in 1924. He finally won Nuneaton at the 1929 UK general election, his twelfth attempt to get into Parliament. Despite already being 74 years old, he acted as Parliamentary Private Secretary
to George Lansbury
from October 1930, but lost his seat at the 1931 general election.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
newspaper editor and Christian socialist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who contested a large number of elections before finally winning a parliamentary seat in his mid-70s.
Born in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, Smith was educated privately and ran an upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
company in Sloane Street
Sloane Street
Sloane Street is a major London street which runs north to south, from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, crossing Pont Street about half way along, entirely in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Sloane Street takes its name from Sir Hans Sloane, who purchased the surrounding area in 1712...
. He was active in the Chelsea Mission, and through that joined the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
in its early days. He moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to organise the Salvationist movement there, then returned to the UK as the first leader of the Social Wing of the Salvation Army. In 1890, he co-wrote In Darkest England and the Way Out with William Booth
William Booth
William Booth was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General...
. However, he left the movement later in the year, to involve himself in the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
, founding the Labor Army and Workers' Cry, a newspaper which he edited from two years. In 1892, he became editor of the Weekly Dispatch
Sunday Dispatch
The Sunday Dispatch was a British newspaper, published between 27 September 1801 and 1961. Until 1928, it was called the Weekly Dispatch.-History:...
, holding the post for three years.
Smith stood unsuccessfully in Hammersmith
Hammersmith (UK Parliament constituency)
Hammersmith is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
at the 1892 UK general election, but he was elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
, playing a key role on the body until 1913. He became a founding member of the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
(ILP), and was its first parliamentary candidate, at the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894
Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Sheffield Attercliffe on 5 July 1894. It was the first parliamentary election contested by the Independent Labour Party.-Background:...
. A close friend of its leader, Keir Hardie
Keir Hardie
James Keir Hardie, Sr. , was a Scottish socialist and labour leader, and was the first Independent Labour Member of Parliament elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, he drew on some experience in radical
Radicalism (historical)
The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
to assist with the relaunch of the Labour Leader
Labour Leader
The Labour Leader was a British socialist newspaper published for almost one hundred years. It was later re-named New Leader and Socialist Leader, before finally taking the name Labour Leader again....
. Smith also stood in Glasgow Tradeston
Glasgow Tradeston (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Tradeston was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1955. It elected one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system.-Boundaries:...
at the 1895 general election, in the meantime involving himself in spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
and the Brotherhood Movement, emphasising that, for him, socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
was entirely compatible with religion. After the election, he undertook a speaking tour of the United States with Hardie. In 1901, he resigned his council seat and rejoined the Salvation Army, but continued as an active socialist, becoming Secretary of the National Right to Work Council in 1908.
The ILP was a founding element of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, and Smith stood under this label in many elections: the Taunton by-election, 1909, Croydon by-election, 1909, in Chatham
Chatham (UK Parliament constituency)
Chatham was a parliamentary constituency in Kent which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in 1910, Balham and Tooting
Balham and Tooting (UK Parliament constituency)
Balham and Tooting was a constituency in South London, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in 1918, Birmingham West
Birmingham West (UK Parliament constituency)
Birmingham West was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returned one Member of Parliament , elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in 1922 and 1923, and Nuneaton
Nuneaton (UK Parliament constituency)
Nuneaton is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Pre-2010 :...
in 1924. He finally won Nuneaton at the 1929 UK general election, his twelfth attempt to get into Parliament. Despite already being 74 years old, he acted as Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to George Lansbury
George Lansbury
George Lansbury was a British politician, socialist, Christian pacifist and newspaper editor. He was a Member of Parliament from 1910 to 1912 and from 1922 to 1940, and leader of the Labour Party from 1932 to 1935....
from October 1930, but lost his seat at the 1931 general election.