Michael Babington Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Babington Smith
CBE TD
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Babington Smith in 1949
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| Born |
Michael James Babington Smith
20 March 1901 |
| Died | 26 October 1984 (aged 83) Kensington and Chelsea, London
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Jean Babington Smith |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin (grandfather) Constance Babington Smith (sister) |
| Family | Babington family |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1925–45 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Unit | Leicestershire Yeomanry, Home Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | CBE Legion of Honour Croix de Guerre |
Michael James Babington Smith (March 20, 1901 – October 26, 1984) was a British banker, sportsman, and soldier. He was known as MJBS in London. During World War II, he worked for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was the Director of Finance at SHAEF from 1943 to 1945. After the war, he became a director of the Bank of England for 20 years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Babington Smith was born in Constantinople (now İstanbul, Turkey) in 1901. His father, Sir Henry Babington Smith, was a British civil servant. He later became a director of the Bank of England. Michael's mother was Lady Elisabeth Bruce. Her father was the 9th Earl of Elgin, who was the Viceroy of India. Michael was the oldest of 10 children. His sister, Constance Babington Smith, became a journalist.
Michael went to Eton College, a famous school. There, he was a successful cricket player. He then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He enjoyed many sports, including shooting and fencing. He was a five-time finalist in British foil fencing championships. In 1931, he was the captain of the England fencing team.
Career Highlights
Banking Career
In 1923, Babington Smith started working at Glyn, Mills & Co., a bank. He worked there for 50 years. He became a partner in 1932 and a managing director in 1938. In 1946, he became the deputy chairman. That same year, he joined the Court of Directors of the Bank of England. In 1949, he was made a full director of the Bank of England. He held this important position for 20 years.
Military Service
Babington Smith joined the Territorial Army in 1925. This was a part-time army force. When World War II began in 1939, he joined the Home Guard.
From 1941 to 1943, he worked in Africa. He was the financial controller for the newly freed Italian colonies in East Africa. In 1943, he returned to England. He became an assistant to US Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). He was promoted to Brigadier. As Director of Finance at SHAEF, he planned how the Allied invasion of Western Europe would be paid for. He held this role until 1945.
Awards and Recognition
In April 1945, Michael Babington Smith was honored for his service in World War II. He was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a very important award in the UK.
He also received awards from France. These included the Legion d'Honeur avec Palme and the Croix de Guerre.
Personal Life
In 1943, Michael Babington Smith married Jean Mary. They had three children: a son named Alan, and two daughters, Louisa and Susan.
Babington Smith never officially retired from his work. In his later years, he suffered from severe arthritis. He also had a car accident that made it harder for him to move around. He passed away in London in 1984, at the age of 83.
In 1990, his wife, Jean, was given the title Lady Jean Babington Smith. She died in 2001.
