Hubert Smith

Hubert John Forster Smith (12 August 1899 – 26 December 1984) was the chief agent of the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 1942 and 1961.

Hubert Smith was born on 12 August 1899, the son of the Master of Balliol College, Oxford. He was named after a family friend called Hubert Howard, a Times correspondent who had been killed during the Battle of Omdurman. Smith was educated at Magdalen College School, before attending Balliol to study rural economics.

When he was 25, Smith was appointed to look after the Cliveden estates, in the service of Waldorf and Nancy Astor. When in 1942 Cliveden was given to the National Trust, Smith was given the post of chief land agent for the Trust. His responsibilities included managing the care of all the estates belonging to the organisation, as well as assessing estates being offered to the National Trust.

In 1961, Smith retired from his National Trust duties, moving to a permanent home in Dorset. He died on 26 December 1984 at the age of 85.

Smith married Diane Watkin in 1923, and they remained married for 60 years until Hubert's death. They had three sons, including Anthony Smith, the author, broadcaster and explorer.