I . Smith
a very common family name in Britain and the US. It is sometimes used by people who do not want their real names to be known:
They had registered at the hotel in the names of Mr and Mrs Smith.
II . Adam Smith
(1723–90)
a Scottish philosopher and economist. He believed in free trade and private enterprise (= the idea that business and industry should be controlled by private individuals or companies, not by the state). His book, The Wealth of Nations , is regarded as the first major work in the modern science of economics. His ideas have influenced several 20th–century politicians, including Margaret Thatcher .
III . Bessie Smith
(1895–1937)
the leading African-American blues singer of her time. Her popular name was ‘Empress of the Blues’. During her career, she performed with such musicians as Benny Goodman , Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson. Her hits included Downhearted Blues (1923). She died after a car crash.
IV . Delia Smith
(1941– )
an English presenter of popular television programmes on cooking. She is also the author of several cookery books which have sold in very large numbers.
V . Ian Smith
(1919– )
the last prime minister of Rhodesia, the country now called Zimbabwe. In 1965 he declared Rhodesia to be an independent African country ruled by white people. Although very few countries recognized Rhodesia, Smith stayed in charge until the country became Zimbabwe in 1979.
VI . John Smith
( c. 1579–1631)
an English colonist (= a person who establishes a colony, an area settled and controlled by people from another country) in America. He was one of the early colonists in Virginia, and was president of the North American colony from 1608 to 1609. In 1614 he explored New England, and gave it its name. He traded goods with Native Americans, and is best known for the story that his life was saved by the Native-American princess Pocahontas .
VII . John Smith
(1938–94)
a Scottish Labour politician. He became Leader of the Opposition in 1992. In 1993 he was responsible for changing the way decisions are made in the Labour Party by giving each party member and trade union member one vote. Before that, the unions had always voted on behalf of all their members. When he died Tont Blair became leader of the Opposition.
VIII . Joseph Smith
(1805–44)
the US religious leader who started the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and published The Book of Mormon (1830) containing their basic beliefs. After some of his followers burnt down the offices of a Mormon newspaper that had criticized him, Smith was arrested with his brother Hyrum and taken to a prison at Carthage, Illinois , where an angry crowd shot and killed them.
IX . Kate Smith
(1909–86)
a US singer. She became famous during World War II for her version of God Bless America and for travelling thousands of miles to entertain the military forces. Smith recorded about 3 000 songs including her theme song, When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain , which began her radio shows in the 1930s and the 1940s. She later had her own television series, (1950–6).
X . Maggie Smith
(1934– )
an English actor well known for the quality of her many theatre and film performances. She was one of the original members of the National Theatre company in the 1960s, and in 1969 she won an Oscar for her part in the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). She was made a dame (2) in 1990.
XI . Margaret Chase Smith
(1897–1995)
the first US woman elected to both the US House of Representatives (1940–9) and the US Senate (1949–73). She was also, in 1964, the first woman to be named by a major political party as a possible candidate for US President. Smith was a member of the Republican Party from Maine .
XII . Stevie Smith
(1902–71)
an English writer of poems and novels. She wrote three novels but is best known for the harsh and intelligent humour of her poetry. Her most famous poem is Not Waving but Drowning (1957).
XIII . Sydney Smith
(1771–1845)
an English writer and Church of England priest. He played an important role in social and political campaigns such as Catholic emancipation and the abolition of slavery . He was also famous for making remarks full of clever humour.
XIV . W H Smith
( also infml Smith’s )
any of a large group of British shops selling newspapers, magazines, books, cards, etc. Most British high streets and many train stations and airports have a branch of Smith’s.
XV . Zadie Smith
(1975– )
an English writer who won the Whitbread First Novel Award for White Teeth (2000), a book about a mixed race teenager growing up in London which was also made into a television series for Channel Four . Her second novel, The Autograph Man was published in 2002.