Walter Dorling Smiles
Encyclopedia
Lt Col Sir Walter Dorling Smiles CIE
DSO
DL
(8 November 1883 – 31 January 1953) was a Northern Irish politician.
Sir Walter was the son of William Holmes Smiles, director of Belfast Ropeworks, and grandson
of Samuel Smiles
. Sir Walter served during the First World War and, in the 1920s, managed a tea estate in Assam
, there he became involved in local government and was a member of the Assam Legislative Council.
He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Blackburn
from 1931 to 1945. Smiles was re-elected in 1935
but stood for Down
in Northern Ireland at the 1945 Westminster election
, as a Unionist. The two-seat constituency was split in 1950 into North Down
and South Down
. Smiles won North Down that year and remained its MP until his death in 1953; he lost his life in the sinking of the off Larne Lough, in the Great Storm. He was succeeded by his daughter, Patricia Ford
. He was the great-grandfather of explorer Bear Grylls
.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(8 November 1883 – 31 January 1953) was a Northern Irish politician.
Sir Walter was the son of William Holmes Smiles, director of Belfast Ropeworks, and grandson
Grandson
Grandson has multiple meanings:*Grandson *Grandson, Switzerland, a municipality in Switzerland*Grandson , a district in Switzerland...
of Samuel Smiles
Samuel Smiles
-Early life:Born in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, the son of Samuel Smiles of Haddington and Janet Wilson of Dalkeith, Smiles was one of eleven surviving children. The family were strict Cameronians, though when Smiles grew up he was not one of them...
. Sir Walter served during the First World War and, in the 1920s, managed a tea estate in Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, there he became involved in local government and was a member of the Assam Legislative Council.
He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Blackburn
Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)
Blackburn is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The town currently elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its re-creation in 1955.-Boundaries:The constituency...
from 1931 to 1945. Smiles was re-elected in 1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
but stood for Down
Down (UK Parliament constituency)
Down was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801-1885 and 1922-1950.-Boundaries:1801-1885: The whole of County Down, excluding the Boroughs of Downpatrick and Newry....
in Northern Ireland at the 1945 Westminster election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, as a Unionist. The two-seat constituency was split in 1950 into North Down
North Down (UK Parliament constituency)
North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Sylvia Hermon, elected as an Independent in the 2010 General Election. -Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the northern part of Down...
and South Down
South Down (UK Parliament constituency)
South Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the southern part of Down...
. Smiles won North Down that year and remained its MP until his death in 1953; he lost his life in the sinking of the off Larne Lough, in the Great Storm. He was succeeded by his daughter, Patricia Ford
Patricia Ford (politician)
Patricia Ford, Lady Fisher was an Ulster Unionist Party politician in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom...
. He was the great-grandfather of explorer Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls
Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls is an English adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is best known for his television series Man vs. Wild, known as Born Survivor in the United Kingdom...
.