15 Facts About Arthur Smout

Sir Arthur Smout was first Director-General of Small Arms Production for the British Armed Forces during World War II and later became Director-General of Ammunition Production at the Ministry of Supply.

Arthur John Griffiths Smout was born in Birmingham, England on 18 November 1888, the eldest of three brothers.

Arthur Smout was educated at King Edward's School in Birmingham, and Birmingham Municipal Technical School.

Arthur Smout started his career in 1905 as a student apprentice at Elliott's Metal Co in Birmingham, while studying part-time at Birmingham University and gaining the full technological certificate of the City and Guilds of London Institute in 1909.

Arthur Smout worked in various analytical chemistry and metallurgy positions at Elliot's and by 1920 he had become works manager of the various Elliot's factories.

From 1924 to 1934 Arthur Smout was production director of Elliott's Metal Co, which became part of Imperial Chemical Industries in 1928.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Arthur Smout hosted a visit by King George VI to the ammunition production at the Imperial Chemical Industries site in Witton on 26 October 1939.

Arthur Smout was appointed first Director-General of Small Arms Production for the British Armed Forces and then Director-General of Ammunition Production at the Ministry of Supply.

Arthur Smout received his knighthood for his war time service in 1946 from King George VI.

In 1948, Arthur Smout bought the 330 acre Sherriffs Lench Farm in Worcestershire and farmed it until his death in hospital in Birmingham on 21 February 1961, aged 72.

Arthur Smout was married to Annie Hilda Follows and they had five sons.

Arthur Smout's youngest son, Christopher Smout, is a historian, and the current incumbent of the post of Historiographer Royal.

Arthur Smout gave much of his time to the advancement of science and to public service, particularly in his native city of Birmingham, where he was President of the Birmingham branch of the British Chamber of Commerce, a Life Governor and member of the Council of Birmingham University and a Justice of the Peace serving as a City Magistrate at 500 sittings from 1942 to 1961.

Arthur Smout was president of the Institute of Metals, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, a fellow of the Institution of Metallurgists, and vice-president of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.

Arthur Smout was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Wales in 1954, in recognition of the work he had done for industry in the Swansea area and his contribution to technological education.