Edward Abel Smith: A Prominent Figure In Banking And Philanthropy

Who was Edward Abel Smith? Edward Abel Smith was a British economist and politician who served as the President of the Board of Trade from 1859 to 1866.

Smith was born in London in 1804. He was the son of Abel Smith, a wealthy banker, and Anne Smith. Smith was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. After graduating from Cambridge, Smith entered the family banking business. In 1832, he was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Chichester. Smith served in the House of Commons for 28 years. During his time in Parliament, Smith was a strong advocate for free trade. He also served on the Board of Trade from 1847 to 1852.

In 1859, Smith was appointed President of the Board of Trade. As President of the Board of Trade, Smith was responsible for overseeing British trade policy. He also played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, which was a free trade agreement between Britain and France. The Cobden-Chevalier Treaty was a major step forward in the development of free trade in Europe.

Smith retired from politics in 1866. He died in London in 1877.

Edward Abel Smith

Edward Abel Smith was a British economist and politician who served as the President of the Board of Trade from 1859 to 1866. He was a strong advocate for free trade and played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty.

• Economist and politician
• President of the Board of Trade
• Advocate for free trade
• Negotiator of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty
• Member of Parliament for Chichester
• Son of Abel Smith, a wealthy banker

Smith's work on free trade helped to promote economic growth and prosperity in Britain. He was a leading figure in the development of free trade policy in Europe. Smith's legacy continues to this day, as free trade remains a cornerstone of the global economy.

Economist and politician

Economists and politicians are often closely linked, as economics plays a major role in politics. Economists can provide politicians with valuable insights into the potential economic consequences of different policies. Politicians, in turn, can use this information to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and shape economic policy.

Edward Abel Smith was a British economist and politician who served as the President of the Board of Trade from 1859 to 1866. Smith was a strong advocate for free trade, and he played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, which was a free trade agreement between Britain and France. Smith's work on free trade helped to promote economic growth and prosperity in Britain.

The connection between economists and politicians is essential for ensuring that economic policy is based on sound economic principles. Economists can provide politicians with the data and analysis they need to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and shape economic policy. Politicians, in turn, can use this information to develop policies that promote economic growth and prosperity.

President of the Board of Trade

The President of the Board of Trade is a senior position in the British government. The President is responsible for overseeing British trade policy and promoting British businesses at home and abroad.

• Trade policy
  

  The President of the Board of Trade is responsible for developing and implementing British trade policy. This includes negotiating trade agreements with other countries, promoting free trade, and protecting British businesses from unfair competition.

• Business support
  

  The President of the Board of Trade is also responsible for supporting British businesses. This includes providing financial assistance, advice, and training to businesses. The President also works to promote British businesses abroad and to attract foreign investment to the UK.

• Consumer protection
  

  The President of the Board of Trade is also responsible for consumer protection. This includes ensuring that consumers are protected from unfair trading practices and that they have access to safe and affordable goods and services.

• Intellectual property
  

  The President of the Board of Trade is also responsible for intellectual property. This includes protecting the rights of creators and inventors and ensuring that they are able to benefit from their work.

Edward Abel Smith served as President of the Board of Trade from 1859 to 1866. During his time in office, Smith was a strong advocate for free trade. He played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, which was a free trade agreement between Britain and France. The Cobden-Chevalier Treaty was a major step forward in the development of free trade in Europe.

Advocate for free trade

Edward Abel Smith was a strong advocate for free trade. He believed that free trade would lead to economic growth and prosperity. Smith's advocacy for free trade was based on the following principles:

• Free trade allows countries to specialize in producing goods and services that they can produce most efficiently. This leads to increased productivity and lower prices for consumers.
• Free trade promotes competition, which leads to innovation and improved quality of goods and services.
• Free trade creates jobs and economic growth.

Smith's advocacy for free trade was instrumental in the development of free trade policy in Britain. He played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, which was a free trade agreement between Britain and France. The Cobden-Chevalier Treaty was a major step forward in the development of free trade in Europe.

Smith's legacy continues to this day. Free trade is now a cornerstone of the global economy. It has helped to promote economic growth and prosperity around the world.

Negotiator of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty

Edward Abel Smith played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty. The treaty was a free trade agreement between Britain and France. It was signed in 1860 and came into effect in 1861. The treaty was named after Richard Cobden and Michel Chevalier, the two men who negotiated it.

The Cobden-Chevalier Treaty was a major step forward in the development of free trade in Europe. It led to a significant increase in trade between Britain and France. It also helped to promote free trade around the world.

Smith's work on the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty was a major achievement. It helped to promote economic growth and prosperity in Britain and France. It also helped to lay the foundation for the global free trade system that we have today.

Member of Parliament for Chichester

Edward Abel Smith was the Member of Parliament for Chichester from 1832 to 1866. He was a strong advocate for free trade and played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty. His work as the Member of Parliament for Chichester was an important part of his career.

As the Member of Parliament for Chichester, Smith was able to represent the interests of his constituents in Parliament. He was a strong advocate for free trade, which he believed would benefit the people of Chichester. He also worked to improve the infrastructure of Chichester, including the construction of a new railway line.

Smith's work as the Member of Parliament for Chichester was an important part of his career. It allowed him to make a significant contribution to his community and to the development of free trade policy in Britain.

Son of Abel Smith, a wealthy banker

Edward Abel Smith was the son of Abel Smith, a wealthy banker. His father's wealth and connections gave him a number of advantages in life. He was able to attend the best schools and universities, and he had access to the best resources and opportunities. This gave him a solid foundation for his career in economics and politics.

In addition to his financial advantages, Smith also benefited from his father's political connections. His father was a Member of Parliament, and he was able to introduce Smith to other influential people in politics and business. This helped Smith to build a network of contacts that would be invaluable to him throughout his career.

Smith's father also instilled in him a strong work ethic and a commitment to public service. Smith carried these values with him throughout his life, and they helped him to achieve great success in his career.

The connection between "Son of Abel Smith, a wealthy banker" and "Edward Abel Smith" is an important one. It shows how Smith's father's wealth and connections gave him a number of advantages in life. These advantages helped Smith to achieve great success in his career.

Edward Abel Smith FAQs

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Edward Abel Smith, a British economist and politician who served as the President of the Board of Trade from 1859 to 1866.

Edward Abel Smith was a strong advocate for free trade, and he played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, which was a free trade agreement between Britain and France. The treaty led to a significant increase in trade between the two countries and helped to lay the foundation for the global free trade system that we have today.

As President of the Board of Trade, Edward Abel Smith oversaw British trade policy and played a key role in promoting British businesses at home and abroad. He also played a key role in the development of the railway system in Britain.

Edward Abel Smith was a member of the Liberal Party.

Edward Abel Smith was a keen sportsman and a patron of the arts. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Edward Abel Smith is remembered as one of the leading figures in the development of free trade policy in Britain. He was a strong advocate for free trade, and he played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty. His work helped to promote economic growth and prosperity in Britain and around the world.

There are a number of resources available online about Edward Abel Smith. You can find more information about his life and work on websites such as Wikipedia, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and the History of Parliament website.

We hope this FAQ section has been helpful in providing you with more information about Edward Abel Smith. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your interest in Edward Abel Smith.

Transition to the next article section: Edward Abel Smith was a remarkable figure in British history. His work on free trade helped to promote economic growth and prosperity in Britain and around the world. He is remembered as one of the leading figures in the development of free trade policy.

Conclusion

Edward Abel Smith was a British economist and politician who served as the President of the Board of Trade from 1859 to 1866. He was a strong advocate for free trade and played a key role in the negotiation of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty. Smith's work helped to promote economic growth and prosperity in Britain and around the world.

Smith's legacy is still felt today. Free trade is now a cornerstone of the global economy. It has helped to promote economic growth and prosperity around the world. Smith's work helped to lay the foundation for the free trade system that we have today.

We can learn a lot from Smith's example. He was a man who was committed to public service. He believed in the power of free trade to improve the lives of people around the world. We should all be inspired by his example.