About Henry Walton Smith
Lived 1738 – 1792 (aged 53–54). Henry Walton Smith was a British businessperson.
Henry Walton Smith (1738 – 23 August 1792) was an Englishman who was the founder of W. H. Smith, one of the United Kingdom's largest bookselling and newspaper vending businesses.
Career Brought up in Wrington in Somerset, Henry Walton Smith moved to London and became a personal assistant to Charles Rogers, an English customs official and art collector.
In 1792, together with his wife Anna, he founded his news vending business in London.
He died only a few months later They went on to have two sons, Henry Edward Smith and William Henry Smith, and one daughter, Mary Anne Smith.
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Important facts
People in Henry Walton Smith's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Henry Walton Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Henry Walton Smith?
British businessman
When was Henry Walton Smith born?
Henry Walton Smith was born in 1738.
When did Henry Walton Smith die?
Henry Walton Smith died in 1792.
What was Henry Walton Smith's occupation?
Henry Walton Smith was a businessperson.
What nationality was Henry Walton Smith?
Henry Walton Smith was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Henry Walton Smith
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Walton Smith. https://biography.guide/henry-walton-smith/
MLA: "Henry Walton Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-walton-smith/.
Chicago: "Henry Walton Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-walton-smith/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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