David Bonner-Smith (19 May 1890 – 10 December 1950), historian of the Royal Navy, served as Admiralty Librarian from March 1932 until May 1950.
During World War I, he held an honorary commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
[5][6] His anonymous obituarist in The Mariner's Mirror wrote of him that "it has been said that Bonner-Smith not only knew every one of the 100,000 books in the library, but was also familiar with all their contents.
It is a fact that he could immediately direct students and enquirers to whatever references were needed, and have the necessary books at once placed before them, Scores of our members must owe a great debt of gratitude to his ever-ready and encyclopaedic acquaintance with books and documents dealing with the sea and the services.
"[7] The Times reported that "It was a bitter disappointment to him that his scholarship and unique qualifications had received so little appreciation that, during the war, he was transferred to mere routine work of small importance while the library to which he devoted all his enthusiasm and the greater part of his official life was put into other hands; and later, that the official call for a volunteer to succeed him on his coming retirement should specify that no previous library experience was necessary.