Donald Smith serves as Canadian high commissioner…

Donald Smith serves as Canadian high commissioner to Great Britain from 1897.

Prime Minister Sir Mackenzie Bowell had wanted Smith to succeed him in 1896, but Smith refused.

The position of Prime Minister instead went to Sir Charles Tupper, who appointed Smith as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on April 24, 1896.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier retained Smith as High Commissioner following the Liberal election victory of 1896, although his powers were somewhat undercut.

He is created Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, of Glencoe in the County of Argyll and of Mount Royal in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, on August 23, 1897, as part of the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Honours.

He had already been made KCMG on May 29, 1886, promoted to GCMG on May 20, 1896.