E. D. Smith

Ernest D'Israeli Smith (December 8, 1853 – October 15, 1948) was a Canadian businessman and politician who founded a food company that bears his name.

He was born in the hamlet of Winona, part of Saltfleet Township (which became Stoney Creek)cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol III, 1925-1939)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|pg=143|year=1992] on Ontario's Niagara Peninsula. His wife was the first president of the Women’s Institute in Stoney Creek, which was also organized by Adelaide Hoodless and Lady Aberdeen.

Business career

After experimenting with other crops, E.D. Smith planted fruits including raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, apples,strawberries and cherries on his Winona farm. In an effort to cut out the middleman, in 1882 he incorporated his business and started shipping his wares directly to wholesalers. In 1903, the company began manufacturing jam with leftover fruit and two years later built a proper factory for that purpose.

In his mature years, Smith relied on his sons to spearhead new business ventures. An expansion to Britain was foiled by the start of the First World War, and continued fruit sales in Canada were reduced by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Consequently, the company concentrated on tomato production for export since it was more of a staple than fruit.

After the start of the Second World War, E.D. Smith & Sons Ltd. acquired the Canadian rights to H.P. Sauce Ltd. of Britain and in 1948 the latter's subsidiary Lea & Perrins Ltd. On October 15, 1948, E.D. Smith died. The private company bearing his name was sold to Imperial Capital in 2001. Its current product line includes jams & spreads, syrups, pie fillings, ketchup, sauces, and salad dressings.

Political career

E.D. Smith was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Wentworth South in 1900. Under redistribution, four years later Smith was re-elected as MP for the combined constituency of Wentworth which covered all of Wentworth County outside Hamilton. He won a by-election in 1905.

Smith appointed to the Senate in 1913, and served until he resigned in 1946 just two years before his death.

External links

*
* [http://www.edsmith.com E.D. Smith & Sons Ltd.] corporate site
* [http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/ah.2001.75.4.438 "Agricultural History"] pay-per-read scholarly article

References