Charles Culling Smith (c. 1775 – 26 May 1853) was a British politician and courtier, most noted as the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington.[1][2]
Culling Smith was born in c. 1775. He was the son of Charles Smith, Governor of Madras, and nephew of Sir Culling Smith, 1st Baronet.[3] His grandfather, Thomas Smith, Esq. of Hadley, Middlesex, was a prosperous London merchant.[2]
Culling Smith's brother-in-law, the Marquess Wellesley, became Foreign Secretary in the Tory government of Spencer Perceval in 1809, and Culling Smith was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 13 December that year,[4] serving until 27 February 1812.[5] On 1 June 1812 he was one of the Esquires to his brother-in-law the Earl of Wellington at the latter's installation (by proxy) as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath.[6]
Culling Smith served as an equerry to the Duke of York, and was present in that capacity at the funeral of Queen Charlotte on 8 December 1818,[7] while his son was there as Page of Honour.[8] On 14 August 1820 Culling Smith and his wife, son, daughter and step-daughters were among the mourners at the funeral of the Duchess of York.[9] His last service as equerry was at the Duke of York's funeral on 20 January 1827.[10]
On 13 March 1827 Culling Smith was made one of the Commissioners of the Board of Customs,[11] but he continued to attend state occasions including the funeral of the Duke of Gloucester on 11 December 1834[12] and the Duke of Wellington on 18 November 1852.[13][14]
On 2 August 1799 he married Lady Anne FitzRoy (1768[15]–1844), widow of the Hon. Henry FitzRoy (fourth son of Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton) and only daughter of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington.[16] By this marriage he gained two stepdaughters:
His marriage to Lady Anne produced a further two children, a daughter and a son:
Culling Smith and Lady Anne lived in a grace-and-favour residence at Apartment 8, Hampton Court Palace.[24]