Nationality British Premier Sir Frank Nicklin Name Henry Smith | Preceded by Sir John Lavarack Children Anne Liddell-Grainger Succeeded by Sir Alan Mansfield | |
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Awards Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderDistinguished Service Order Education Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Similar People Lady May Abel Smith, Alexander Cambridge - 1st Earl of, Princess Alice - Countess, Ian Liddell‑Grainger, Prince Henry - Duke of G | ||
ABEL SMITH WEDDING
Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith (8 March 1900 – 24 January 1993) was a British Army officer and a Governor of Queensland.
Contents
Biography
He was born in London, on 8 March 1900, the son of Francis Abel Smith (1861–1908), of Selsdon Park and Wilford House, and his wife Madeline St. Maur Seymour (1862–1951). His grandparents were Henry Abel Smith (1826–1890) and Elizabeth Mary Pym (1826–1877), and his great-grandparents were Francis Pym (1790–1860) and Lady Lucy Leslie-Meville (1796–1848), daughter of Alexander Leslie-Melville, 9th Earl of Leven. He descended from the Smith's banking family and was also a descendant of Edward Seymour, 8th Duke of Somerset.
Abel Smith was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in December 1919. He served in the Second World War, winning the Distinguished Service Order. He retired as a Colonel in 1950.
On 24 October 1931, he married Lady May Cambridge, at St. Mary's Church, Balcombe, Sussex. She was born Princess May of Teck, and was a niece of King George V and Queen Mary, and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. They had three children:
Sir Henry was appointed Governor of Queensland from 18 March 1958, serving until 18 March 1966. He was highly respected in the office of governor. People lined the streets as a mark of high esteem to bid farewell to him and Lady May Abel Smith on their final day in office on their way to Brisbane Airport.
Sir Henry died at Barton Lodge, Winkfield, Berkshire, on 24 January 1993 aged 92. His funeral service took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. His cremated remains were buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore. His wife survived him by only sixteen months.