Alexander Abel Smith

Sir Alexander Abel Smith was a British Army officer and merchant banker from the Smith banking family.

Early life and education

Abel Smith was born at Chesham Place, Belgravia, the youngest son of Francis Abel Smith of Wilford House, Nottinghamshire, and Madeline St Maur Seymour, daughter of Rev. Henry Seymour, a cousin of the Duke of Somerset. His elder brother was Col. Sir Henry Abel Smith, Governor of Queensland. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford.

Career

After university, Abel Smith worked in JP Morgan in New York.
Abel Smith served in Anti-Aircraft Command in World War II, and then joined the
British Army Staff, Washington. He was an honorary Brigadier in the British Army. From about 1946 he was a partner in J. Henry Schroder Wagg. He was Chairman of the Pressed Steel Company from 1955 to 1965 and of Provident Mutual Life Assurance Association Ltd. from 1966 to 1973.

Personal life

Abel Smith married in 1936 Elizabeth Morgan, who died in 1948. Secondly, he was the second husband of Henriette, Lady Abel Smith, Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II. His son, engineer David Francis Abel Smith, married author Lucy Abel Smith.
Abel smith resided at Quenington Old Rectory, in Cirencester. In 1980, he died suddenly after a fall.