, PC, KC (12 July 1872 – 30 September 1930), best known to history as F. E. Smith (and also Galloper Smith), was a British
Conservative
statesman
and lawyer
of the early 20th century. He was a skilled orator, noted for his staunch opposition to Irish nationalism
, his wit, pugnacious views, and hard living and drinking. He is perhaps best remembered today as Winston Churchill
's greatest personal and political friend until Birkenhead's death at age 58 from pneumonia
caused by cirrhosis of the liver.
Smith was born in Birkenhead
in Cheshire
and was educated at Birkenhead School
.
We stand for the State and for the unity which, whether in the form of kingdom or empire or class solidarity, the State alone can bring. Above all stands the State and in that phrase lies the essence of Toryism. Our ancestors left it to us, and not the least potent method of preserving it is to link the conception of State Toryism with the practice of Social Reform.
To me it is frankly inconceivable that India will ever be fit for Dominion self-government.
The greater the political progress made by the Hindus, the greater, in my judgement, will be the Moslem discontent and antagonism. All the conferences in the world cannot bridge over the unbridgeable, and between those two countries lies a chasm which cannot be crossed by the resources of modern political engineering.
I have always placed my highest and most permanent hopes upon the eternity of the Communal situation.
It would be possible to say without exaggeration that the miners' leaders were the stupidest men in England if we had not frequent occassion to meet the owners.