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| Bracewell Smith | |
| Born | June 29, 1884 |
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| Died | January 12, 1966 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Businessman and Politician |
| Title | Baronet Keighley |
| Spouse(s) | Edith neé Smith |
| Children | Eileen (b1911) and George Bracewell Smith (b1912) |
Sir Bracewell Smith, 1st Baronet, KCVO (29 June 1884 - 12 January 1966) was a British businessman and politician. He founded the Bracewell-Smith family dynasty.
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Biography
Born in Keighley, Yorkshire, he attended Wesley Primary School in the town1. He started as a pupil teacher and attended Leeds University before entering business. He married Edith Smith in 1909 and had two children Eileen (born 1911) and George Bracewell Smith born in 1912.
Business
Smith made his fortune in property. In particular he was a major hotel investor/owner and who built the Park Lane Hotel in 19202. The Bracewell Smith family also owned the Ritz Hotel which Sir Bracewell Smith's son George (but known as Guy) sold to Trafalgar House for £2.75m in 19763. They at various times had stakes in the Carlton Hotel and Hôtel Ritz Paris.
Smith was also chairman of Arsenal Football Club from 1949 until 1962, and his descendants still hold a significant shareholding in the club. His grandsons Clive and Richard Carr currently sit on the Arsenal FC board. Lady Bracewell-Smith, his grandson Charles' wife, is a former director and holds 15.9% of the club's shares, and his granddaughter Lady Sarah Phipps-Bagge (née Sarah Carr) holds 2%.
Politics
He turned to politics and was a member of Holborn Borough Council from 1922, serving as Mayor 1931-32, and served on the London County Council 1925-28. He was Conservative Member of Parliament for Dulwich between 1932 and 1945, and Lord Mayor of London in 1946. He was made a Baronet 28 June 1947.
Other
In 1958 he was made an Honorary Vice President of the Sports Turf Institute. He was also chairman of Wembley Stadium Ltd.
A freeman of Keighley (1957) he donated Cliff Castle4 to the town for a museum5.
The Sir Bracewell Smith Cup and rosette is awarded annually for best exhibit in the Keighley Show.
References
- ^ "Feather History - School Photo c 1892". http://d-w-feather.tripod.com/WP%201890's.htm. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ "Hotel Photo". http://www.luxuryhoteladvisor.com/profile.php?property=PKL. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ "Telegraph Article". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/04/11/db1101.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2003/04/11/ixopright.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ "Craven Herald - Article on Donation of Cliff Castle". http://archive.cravenherald.co.uk/2004/1/9/104226.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ "Museum". http://www.bbpt.org.uk/completed.asp. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Frederick Hall |
Member of Parliament for Dulwich 1932 – 1945 |
Succeeded by Wilfrid Vernon |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of Keighley) 1947 – 1966 |
Succeeded by George Bracewell Smith |
| Business positions | ||
| Preceded by Samuel Hill-Wood |
Arsenal chairman 1949 – 1962 |
Succeeded by Denis Hill-Wood |
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