William Frederick Danvers Smith, 2nd Viscount Hambleden

William Frederick Danvers Smith, 2nd Viscount Hambleden (12 August 1868 – 16 June 1928), known as Frederick Smith, was an English businessman and politician. He was involved in the management of the family business, W H Smith, which was founded by his grandfather, William Henry Smith. In 1891, he succeeded his father William Henry Smith as Member of Parliament for the Strand constituency, holding the seat until January 1910. Smith's rapid success... more

William Frederick Danvers Smith, 2nd Viscount Hambleden (12 August 1868 – 16 June 1928), known as Frederick Smith, was an English businessman and politician. He was involved in the management of the family business, W H Smith, which was founded by his grandfather, William Henry Smith. In 1891, he succeeded his father William Henry Smith as Member of Parliament for the Strand constituency, holding the seat until January 1910. Smith's rapid succession to the seat his father held in Parliament may have played a role in one of the odder events of Frederick Smith's life. By suddenly rising to public prominence he was targeted for blackmail by the notorious Canadian-American-British poisoner Dr. Thomas Neill Cream, who (writing under an assumed name) claimed to have proof that Smith had poisoned a prostitute. This was one of three known attempts at blackmail that may have been the real motive for Cream's string of poisonings in the Stepney and Lambeth areas of London from October 1891 to... less