Bracewell Smith facts for kids
Sir Bracewell Smith (born June 29, 1884 – died January 12, 1966) was a very successful British businessman and politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party and even became the 619th Lord Mayor of London, which is a very important job in the city. He was also honored with the KCVO, a special award from the King or Queen.
About Sir Bracewell Smith
Sir Bracewell Smith was born in a town called Keighley in Yorkshire, England. He went to Wesley Place Primary School there. He started his career as a pupil teacher and studied at Leeds University before going into business. In 1909, he married Edith Whitaker. They had two children, Eileen (born in 1911) and George Bracewell Smith (born in 1912).
His Business Success
Sir Bracewell Smith made a lot of money in the property business. This means he bought, sold, and developed land and buildings. He was especially known for investing in and owning hotels. He even built the famous Park Lane Hotel in London in 1920.
His family also owned the well-known Ritz Hotel for a time. His son, George (who was known as Guy), later sold the Ritz Hotel in 1976. The family also had shares in other famous hotels like the Carlton Hotel in London and the Hôtel Ritz Paris in Paris.
Sir Bracewell Smith was also the chairman of Arsenal Football Club from 1949 until 1962. His family continued to own a large part of the club until 2011. Today, his grandsons Clive and Richard Carr, along with his grandson Charles's wife, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, are still involved with the Arsenal board.
His Political Career
Later in his life, Sir Bracewell Smith became involved in politics. He joined the Holborn Borough Council in 1922 and served as the Mayor of Holborn from 1931 to 1932. He was also a member of the London County Council from 1925 to 1928.
He became a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Dulwich from 1932 to 1945. An MP is someone elected to represent an area in the UK Parliament. In 1943, he was the Sheriff of the City of London, and in 1946, he became the Lord Mayor of London.
He received special honors too. He was made a Knight in 1945, which means he could use "Sir" before his name. In 1947, he became a Baronet, which is another special title that can be passed down in a family. He was also given the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1948.
Other Achievements
In 1958, Sir Bracewell Smith was made an Honorary Vice President of the Sports Turf Institute. He also served as the chairman of Wembley Stadium Ltd., which is a famous sports stadium.
He was given the freedom of his hometown, Keighley, on February 6, 1957. He generously donated Cliffe Castle to the town, which became a museum for everyone to enjoy.
Today, the Sir Bracewell Smith Cup and a special rosette are awarded every year for the best exhibit at the Keighley Show, keeping his memory alive.
