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George Smith

1914 – 1978

British trade unionist

Trade unionist Carpenter
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About George Smith

Lived 1914 – 1978 (aged 64). George Smith was a British trade unionist and carpenter.

Sir George Fenwick Smith (24 June 1914 – 21 November 1978) was a Scottish trade unionist.

Smith was born in Arbroath, Angus, and educated at Inverbrothock and Downfield Schools.

Smith became the full-time National Organiser of the Woodworkers in 1945, and then Assistant General Secretary in 1949. Ten years later, he was elected as the union's General Secretary. When the Woodworkers merged with other unions to form the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, Smith became its first General Secretary, serving until his death in 1978. He also serve as the President of the Trades Union Congress in 1972, and on the council of Acas from 1974.

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1969 and knighted in the 1978 New Year Honours.

He died in Sutton, London, in 1978.

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Important facts

Birth century
Positions held
General secretary
Awards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Knight Bachelor
Also known as
Sir George Fenwick Smith

People in George Smith's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George Smith's

Frequently asked questions

Who was George Smith?

British trade unionist

When was George Smith born?

George Smith was born on 24 June 1914.

When did George Smith die?

George Smith died on 21 November 1978.

What was George Smith's occupation?

George Smith was a trade unionist and carpenter.

What nationality was George Smith?

George Smith was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Smith

· Wikidata: Q5544656

· DBpedia: George Smith (trade unionist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Smith. https://biography.guide/george-smith-trade-unionist/

MLA: "George Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-smith-trade-unionist/.

Chicago: "George Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-smith-trade-unionist/.

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