Smiths Group traces its fascinating corporate history back to 1851 when Samuel Smith established a small clock and watchmaking shop in London, England. Over the subsequent decades and centuries, the enterprise evolved from a precision instrument artisan into a sprawling global industrial conglomerate supplying mission-critical components for aviation, medical care, and national security. In recent years, the company executed a massive strategic portfolio transformation, divesting its medical and detection units to focus exclusively on high-performance industrial technology and fluid management solutions.