Abel Smith (1748-1779)

Abel Smith (29 June, 1748-22 January, 1779) was a British Member of Parliament.

Smith was the oldest son of Abel Smith, a Nottingham banker who, following his father, also called Abel, had continued developing the business into what was by the end of the century to become one of the biggest private banks in England. The first Abel Smith had contented himself with using some of his wealth to intervene in other people's elections. Abel the second eventually entered Parliament for a pocket borough in 1774. Four years later, in October 1778, the young Abel could rely on the family's standing in his home city to secure election for Nottingham; however, he died only three months later.

His younger brother, Robert, followed him as MP for Nottingham, and took over the business on his father's death. In 1796 was raised to the peerage as Lord Carrington. Three of Abel's other brothers also became MPs.

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* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p13816.htm#i138158 www.thepeerage.com]