Anthony Thomas Smith QC (21 June 1935 – 15 September 2017)[1] was a British lawyer and Liberal Party politician.

Background edit

Smith was born the son of Sydney Ernest Smith and Winston Victoria Smith. He was educated at Northampton, Stafford, and Hinckley Grammar Schools, and at King's College, Cambridge (Exhibitioner; MA). In 1959 he married Letitia Ann Wheldon Griffith. They had one son and two daughters.[2]

Professional career edit

Smith was Called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1958. He served as a Flying Officer in the RAF from 1958 to 1960, then returned to his legal career. He was founder and Chairman of the Birmingham Free Representation Scheme. He was made a QC in 1977 and appointed as a Recorder.[3] He was made a Bencher in 1985.[4]

Political career edit

Smith was Liberal candidate for the Northampton division at the 1959 General Election. The constituency was a Labour/Conservative marginal and the Liberals had not run a candidate since coming a poor third in 1950. His prospects were not good and the party did not improve on its position.[5]

Electoral record edit

General Election 1959: Northampton[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Reginald Thomas Guy Des Voeux Paget 27,823 46.30 -6.45
Conservative Joan Christabel Jill Knight 25,106 41.77 -5.48
Liberal Anthony Thomas Smith 7,170 11.93 N/A
Majority 2,717 4.52 -0.98
Turnout 60,099 82.87 +0.27
Registered electors 72,521
Labour hold Swing -0.49

References edit

  1. ^ "Obituary notice, The Times". legacy.com. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. ^ ‘SMITH, Anthony Thomas’, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2015; online edn, Nov 2015 accessed 20 July 2016
  3. ^ "No. 47194". The London Gazette. 12 April 1977. p. 4891.
  4. ^ ‘SMITH, Anthony Thomas’, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2015; online edn, Nov 2015 accessed 20 July 2016
  5. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1983, FWS Craig
  6. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.