Sir Henry Thompson Smith
(1905-1986), Civil Servant, Deputy Under-Secretary of StateSitter in 1 portrait
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 27 February 1962
NPG x185353
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Pamela Smith
16 November 2020, 17:59
Sir Henry Thompson Smith, CB, KBE (1905-1986) Civil Servant
Born in 1905 in Gateshead to a poor family made poorer by the early death of his father, Henry Thompson Smith left school at 13 to become a post office messenger. Taking internal exams and later attending Promotion Boards he rose through the Civil Service ranks, first in the Post Office and later in Customs, his only academic qualification being an L.S.E. Diploma in Economics and Social Science gained by evening study after his day’s work. When WW2 broke out he requested transfer to the Air Ministry where he spent the rest of his career, rising to the position of Deputy Under-Secretary of State for Air. Retiring in 1965, he delighted in gardening, furniture making and revisiting the North East and Scotland.
Spouse: Jean Harrison Wilson (1900-1982) 3 daughters.