Late 18th and early 19th century British political history
Ernest Anthony Smith (25 December 1924 – 27 November 1998) was an English historian who specialised in late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century British political history.[1]
Early life
He was born in Grimethorpe, Yorkshire, and won an open scholarship to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1942. However, he was called up for military service before he could take his place there, and served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He finally went up to Cambridge in October 1947 to read history, before moving to Reading University in 1949 to study for a diploma in education.[1]
Academic career
From 1951 until 1954 he was an assistant lecturer at Reading, after being appointed by Arthur Aspinall, the professor of history. Smith was successively lecturer (1954–64), senior lecturer (1964–76) and reader (1976–90) at Reading.[1]
Smith was employed by both Aspinall and Lewis Namier as a research assistant on The History of Parliament project. He was also joint editor (with Aspinall) of English Historical Documents, 1783-1832 (1959).[1]
In 1991 he was awarded a LittD from Cambridge. He was also instrumental in the founding of Reading Festival.[1]
Personal life
Smith married Daphine Greenhaigh in 1948, with whom he had a son and a daughter. They divorced in 1978, whereupon Smith married Anne Pallister, who died 1986. In 1988 he married Virginia Willcox. Smith died in Redhill, Surrey on 27 November 1998.[1]
Works
Whig Principles and Party Politics: Earl Fitzwilliam and the Whig Party, 1748-1833 (1975)
