Arthur Smout

1948.

Sir Arthur John Griffiths Smout (1888-1961)

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1961 Obituary

"WE regret to record the death of Sir Arthur Smout, which occurred on February 21. Arthur John Griffiths Smout was born at Birmingham on November 18, 1888, and educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Birmingham Technical College. He became a student apprentice at the works of Elliotts Metal Co, Birmingham, in 1905, and from 1920 to 1924 he was works manager for this company.

From 1924 to 1934 he was production director of Elliotts, which later became part of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. He was managing director from 1934 and chairman from 1934 to 1942 of the organisation now known as Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., Metals Division, and was appointed to the main I.C.I. board in 1944, with responsibility for the company's ammunition and metal interests.

In the war of 1939-45, Smout was first Director-General of Small Arms Production and, from 1944, Director-General of Ammunition Production. He received his Knighthood in 1946. In 1953 he was appointed chairman of Murex, Ltd., and Murex Welding Processes, Ltd.

Sir Arthur gave much of his time to the advancement of science and to public service, particularly in his native city, where he was a Justice of the Peace, a President of the Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the court of governors and of the council of Birmingham University.

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

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