Alfred Waldron Smithers

Who was Alfred Waldron Smithers?

Sir Alfred Waldron Smithers was a British financier and parliamentarian. Smithers father William Henry Smithers was a prominent employee of the Bank of England. Alfred entered the world of finance early when he joined the London Stock Exchange at the age of 23. He was deputy chairman of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway for some years, and head of the Grand Trunk Railway in Canada until it was nationalised in 1921 in circumstances of some controversy. He was Coalition Unionist member of parliament for Chislehurst from 1918 to 1922. His son Waldron Smithers was later elected to this constituency.

Smithers, British Columbia is named in his honour.