Randal Hugh Vivian Smith, 2nd Baron Bicester (9 January 1898 – 15 January 1968) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

peer and merchant banker in the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...

Biography

Early life

Smith was born on 9 January 1898 in London. He was the eldest son of the banker Vivian Smith (later created first

Baron Bicester Baron Bicester, of Tusmore in the County of Oxford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 29 June 1938 for the banker Vivian Smith. the title is held by his great-grandson, the fifth Baron, who succeeded his first ...

) and his wife Lady Sybil Mary McDonnell, a daughter of

William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim Earl of Antrim is a title that has been created twice, both times in the Peerage of Ireland and both times for members of the MacDonnell family, originally of Scottish origins. History The MacDonells of Antrim descended from Sorley Boy MacDo ...

, and a nephew of Admiral Sir Aubrey Smith. He was educated at

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England * Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States * Éton, a commune in the Meuse dep ...

and the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst, Berkshire, was a British Army military academy for training infantry a ...

Career

He served with the

17th Lancers The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1759 and notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. The regiment was amalgamated with the 21st Lanc ...

, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. During his business years, he served as a director of Morgan, Grenfell & Co., Shell Transport and Trading,

Vickers Vickers was a British engineering company that existed from 1828 until 1999. It was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by Edward Vickers and his father-in-law, and soon became famous for casting church bells. The company went public in 18 ...

and the

Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of ...

. He was

High Sheriff of Oxfordshire The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'. The title of High Sheriff is therefore much older ...

in 1945 and succeeded to his father's title of

in 1956.

Personal life and death

On 29 November 1922, he married Dorothea Gwenllian James, a daughter of

Walter James, 3rd Baron Northbourne Walter John James, 3rd Baron Northbourne (2 September 1869 – 22 December 1932), was an English painter, etcher, and hereditary peer. Biography James was born on 2 September 1869. He is the son of Walter James, 2nd Baron Northbourne, and his ...

. They had two daughters. He was killed in 1968, aged 70, in a motor accident. Without male issue, his title passed to his nephew, Angus Smith.

Ancestry

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bicester, Randal Smith, 2nd Baron 1898 births 1968 deaths 2 High Sheriffs of Oxfordshire Officers of the Order of St John Road incident deaths in the United Kingdom People educated at Eton College 17th Lancers officers Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Randal