James Masterton-Smith

Who was James Masterton-Smith?

Sir James Edward Masterton-Smith KCB, 1919; CB 1915 was a British civil servant.

He was the son of Edward Smith, formerly a member of the Stock Exchange.

In 1905 Masterton-Smith married 1st Barbara Crosbie-Hill. She was the eldest daughter of W. S. J. Crosbie-Hill, JP, of the Red House, Sevenoaks, Kent. They had one son and one daughter. His first wife died in 1921 in tragic circumstances.

In 1923 Masterton-Smith married Marjorie, the only daughter of Hubert B. Marten of 15 Mallord Street, London, SW3.

Masterton-Smith was educated at Harrow School and Hertford College, Oxford.

He entered the Home Civil Service. His career is summarised:

1901 Admiralty,

1904-1908 Private Secretary to the Second Sea Lord,

1908-1910 Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary,

1910-1917 Private Secretary to successive First Lords of the Admiralty