Sir William Reardon Smith, 1st Baronet (7 August 1856 – 23 December 1935) was a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 shipowner.

Reardon Smith was born in Appledore, Devon

Devon

Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...

, and educated at the Wesleyan

Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Britain)

The Wesleyan Methodist Church was the name used by the major Methodist movement in Great Britain following its split from the Church of England after the death of John Wesley and the appearance of parallel Methodist movements...

 School there. He went to sea and obtained his master mariner

Master mariner

A Master Mariner or MM is the professional qualification required for someone to serve as the person in charge or person in command of a commercial vessel. In England, the term Master Mariner has been in use at least since the 13th century, reflecting the fact that in guild or livery company terms,...

's ticket before going into the shipping business. In 1905 he founded his own company, William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd, based in Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

, where he had made his home. The company owned the St Just Steamship Company, Leeds Shipping Company and Cornborough Shipping Line. By the time of his death the company owned twenty-eight ships.

Reardon Smith was also a major benefactor to the National Museum of Wales. He was created a baronet

Baronet

A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...

 in the 1920 King's Birthday Honours in recognition of shipping services during the First World War. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son, Willie

Willie Reardon-Smith

Sir Willie Reardon Smith, 2nd Baronet was a British shipowner.Reardon Smith was the son of Sir William Reardon Smith, 1st Baronet, and his wife Ellen Hamlyn. He followed his father as owner of the South Wales shipping company Reardon Smith Line. He was director of many shipping companies as well...

.